Josefina Maldonado

Mezzo-soprano

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Dallas-born mezzo-soprano, Josefina Maldonado, has been critically acclaimed by The Texas Classical Review and Theater Jones as ‘vocally superb’ with a ‘remarkably rich timbre’. Ms. Maldonado was a young artist with The Dallas Opera Outreach Program in multiple roles in 2019. That year she also made her European debut as a principal artist in the modern-day premieres of two 17th century serenatas by Johannes Schmelzer: Le veglie ossequiose and Die sieben Alter stimmen zusammen, for the Olomouc’s Baroque Festival in the Czech Republic.

In May 2002 she made her debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the Cincinnati May Festival in John Adams’ El Niño, conducted by the composer, followed by her debut with the Cleveland Orchestra in the same role in November 2022. She was reengaged by the Cleveland Orchestra to sing Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater March 21-23, 2024 conducted by Dalia Stasevska.

Ms. Maldonado holds a B.M. from the University of North Texas where she was a frequently featured soloist with the UNT Symphony Orchestra. Her roles with UNT Opera included Dorabella in Così Fan Tutte, Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina, Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Siébel in Faust and Mother Marie in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmélites.

Critical Acclaim:

“The concert marked the Cleveland Orchestra debut of conductor Dalia Stasevska as well as the return to the Severance stage of Texas-born mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado (who first appeared here in John Adams’ El Niño in November 2022). The women left indelible impressions on the audience as well as on music by Julia Perry. Its 10 colorful stanzas provided Perry with plenty of text-painting possibilities, and she rose to the occasion in her 20-minute work. Maldonado produced a beautiful, round sound that projected well in all registers - which included some deep contralto passages as well as thrilling climaxes in the vocal stratosphere. Maldonado effortlessly traversed Perry’s lyrical lines, while saving her biggest pipes for all the right moments. Stasevska paced the drama adroitly.”
Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 24, 2024

“No less cheer-inducing was the performance itself. With the composer on hand conducting massive oratorio forces including the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and a superb slate of guest vocalists, the orchestra delivered what by any standard qualifies as a grand musical gift. About the performers, one can hardly say enough. Bass-baritone Davoné Tines was probably the standout, but soprano Lauren Snouffer and mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado were no less brilliant as they brought a host of other characters vividly to life and shifted between Spanish and English with stunning technical and expressive freedom.”
            Cleveland Plain Dealer - November 18, 202

Remarkable El Niño featuring an extroardinary cas
"These forces were summoned onstage as the Cleveland Orchestra delivered a remarkable performance. Joined by an exquisite cast featuring soprano Lauren Snouffer, mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado and bass-baritone Davoné Tines, the performance was a joyful feast of talent and beauty; one to dwell in memory for a good long while. In the ensuing numbers for solo voices, the otherworldly vocal lines of the astonished musings of Mary, delicately sung by Snouffer and Maldonado, came off as cases in point of the intense intimacy of El Niño. Given in admirable performances, El Niño was a gorgeous affair. Opening Part two with introspection and premonition, mezzo-soprano and chorus join for Pues mi Dios ha nacido, delivering a peaceful contemplation of utmost beauty."
Adventures in Music - November 17, 2022

“The richness of Josefina Maldonado’s mezzo-soprano was ideal for Castellanos’ lush verses in ‘La Annunciacion,’ an exquisite setting of the Annunciation. Her most poignant moment was ‘Pues mi Dios ha Nacido a Penar’ (‘Because my Lord was born to suffer’}, to open Part Two. Her phrasing was deeply felt, and the chorus echoed her sorrowful lines.”
Cincinnati Business Courier - May 21, 2022

La Roldán in Gimenez/Nieto El Barbero de Sevilla, Opera In Concert, Dallas:
“Josefina Maldonado had her moment to shine as the conceited diva in her waltz-like aria in the second scene, in which she likewise demonstrated an impressive combination of substantial vocal quality and bel canto acrobatics.”
Texas Classical Review – May 3, 2019

Madame Rosa in Donizetti’s Il campanello, Opera In Concet, Dallas:
“Another promising standout was mezzo-soprano Josefina Maldonado as Madame Rosa. Maldonado possesses a remarkably rich timbre, combined with an impressive stage presence and the vocal flexibility this slice of the operative repertoire requires.”Texas Classical Review – May 4, 2018