Ileana Mateescu

Ileana Mateescu began her vocal studies in Bucharest and continued them in Salzburg and Mainz. Following her engagement with the Young Ensemble of the Mainz State Theatre, the mezzo-soprano went on to make guest appearances at the Rheinsberg Castle Chamber Opera, the Ulm Theatre and the Frankfurt Opera. In 2012, the multiple award-winner made her debut at the Theater an der Wien and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris in the role of Anastasio in concert performances of Vivaldi’s *Il Giustino*. From 2011 to 2018, she was engaged at the Theatre Dortmund, where she sang major roles such as Dorabella (‘Così fan tutte’), Cherubino (‘Le nozze di Figaro’), Ottone (‘L’incoronazione di Poppea’), Angelina (‘La Cenerentola’), Carmen, Octavian (‘Der Rosenkavalier’), Hansel (‘Hansel and Gretel’), Rinaldo and Olga (‘Eugene Onegin’). In recognition of her outstanding achievements, she was awarded the 2015 ‘Bajazzo’ Prize by the Dortmund Theatre and Concert Friends. The artist has already worked with conductors such as Markus Stenz, Gabriel Feltz, Rasmus Baumann, Michael Hofstetter and Jac van Steen, as well as directors such as Peer Boysen, Jens-Daniel Herzog, Katharina Thoma and Cristian Mihăilescu. With the founding of the International Opera Studio NRW, Ileana Mateescu shifted her focus to behind the scenes. Since then, she has taken the lead in organising and mentoring the young singers. Alongside her work at the Opera Studio, she has been serving as organisational director and assistant to the artistic director at Edith Wiens’ International Meistersinger Academy since 2021.