Erika Grimaldi makes her debut in the title role of Pietro Mascagni’s Iris at the Teatro Regio Torino, marking her first appearance in an opera by the composer. The new production, conducted by Andrea Battistoni and directed by Daniele Menghini, opens on November 5, with further performances on November 10 and 17. The cast also includes Angelo Villari as Osaka, Roberto Frontali as Kyoto, and Luca Tittoto as Il Cieco.

The engagement brings the Italian soprano back to the theater where she enjoyed one of her first major successes as Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème in 2008. Since then, she has returned regularly in leading roles including Fiordiligi in “Così fan tutte,” Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni,” Mathilde in “Guillaume Tell,” Desdemona in “Otello,” Nedda in “Pagliacci,” and Aida, to name but a few.

More recently, Erika Grimaldi returned as Mimì in 2023 and opened the theater’s 2024/25 season in the title role of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut. Her debut in “Iris” adds another major Italian dramatic role to her repertoire and continues her longstanding artistic relationship with the Teatro Regio.