Sicilian-Danish- American Soprano Venicia Rasmussen, “is definitely one of the best in her field” Conductor Hartmut Mende “ Venicia shines, she is charged with positive energy, a power woman” (Wormser Zeitung).  Recently named "La Future Diva”..,“with her powerful and multi-faceted voice..” by Dernières Nouvelles D`Alsace magazine, after embodying the roles of Mimi, Ciò-Ciò San, Rusálka, Violetta and Tosca on her first opera tour through North to South China (2018/19) with Italian Philharmonic "Orchestra Abruzzese.” In 2019/2020, Venicia had great success again in Asia, performing in 18 opera theaters and cities, within 22 days throughout China, singing Musetta, Violetta, Lucia, Ciò-Ciò San and a crossover concert program including Chinese Arias. 

 

Venicia earned her triple degree Bachelor of Music in Opera, Vocal performance, Pedagogy and Liedgesang/Kammermusik with Magna cum laude in 2014 and her Master of Music with Magna cum laude in Opera singing at the University for Music in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2017. She is a high scholar and captivating performer of scholarships: Richard Wagner Verband, Organization Yehudi Menuhin ́s Stiftung “Live Music Now,” Heinrich Hertz Stiftung, DAAD, Milan Panic Organization, etc.  

 

In Summer 2023, Venicia debuted Ciò-Ciò San at the Carnegie Hall, as a Laureate Finale Award from the Progressive Musicians Competition. This July she performed the role of Elisa (My Fair Lady), Maria (West Side Story) and Bess (Pory and Bess) at the open-air festival Volksschauspiele Ötigheim. 

Venicia will also debut Elisabeth from Don Carlos and Madama Butterfly at Werktheater München. In July, she sang for Porsche at the prominent “International Oldtimers Meeting” event in Baden-Baden Casino. In Winter 2023/24 Venicia will return as the main soloist with the Italian Philharmonic “Orchestra Abruzzese” for an Opera tour, at China’s most famous opera houses and arena’s.

In December 2022 she released her first composed single to her Album, “Freeyer” an Earth Anthem written for World Peace. In 2022, Venicia had the honor to perform at the world-renown Volksschauspiele Ötigheim with the roles of: Gilda, Rosina and Violetta.  She also debuted at Teatro del Casinò di Sanremo with Violetta and Ciò-Ciò San with the Sinfonica di Sanremo under the baton of Alfredo Sorichetti in June 2022.  Ms. Rasmussen arrived in the Finale of Concorso Lyric Rinaldo Pelizzioni in 2021 and won third prize at the International Opera Competition Anita Cerquetti with concerts at Teatro delle Logge and at Teatro del Casino di Sanremo in September 2021.  In Summer 2021, she sang at the Festival Opera Extravaganza at Teatro Giardina Segreto in Vetralla, with the roles of Mimi and Juliette. Venicia made an enchanting stage debut with Civitanova Opera in the Piazza di Madonna in Loreto with Violetta. Further concerts followed with parts of; Violetta, Ciò-Ciò San, Juliette and a Sacred program with the Orchestra del 7 and Puccini Symphony Orchestra in the Civitanova Alta Theater and in Marco Sul Mare, with conductor Alfredo Sorichetti. Due to her success, Venicia was invited to perform Violetta and Juliette at the Teatro Greco in Taormina (August 2021). 

 

In 2017-2018, Venicia was internationally engaged for her triple threat of crossover singing, acting and dancing abilities. She was the lead singer on multiple tours throughout Europe - Asia Luxury Ship Tours and on the stages of the Middle East with a Musical/Operetta Program. She made her German debut in the world premiere of “Glut” at the world renown Nibelungen Festspiele in Worms, Germany in 2017 in the singing/acting role of “Walküre/Brünnhilde.”  She had the honorable joy of performing as a soloist, in the opening season of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and at the International Opern-Air Concert in Bensheim, Frankfurt, 2017. 

 

In the Wolfgang Rihm Forum and "Institute for Music Theater Karlsruhe" she sang the roles of Poppea, Susanna, Amour, Adele, Cleopatra, Taumann, Gretel, Lucia and the Cat.  At Los Angeles High School of the Arts she embodied her first full-staged roles as Contessa, Mrs. Maurant, Malwina, Juliette, Adele, Pamina and 1 Dame. Ms. Rasmussen has the unforgettable experience of performing as a soloist at concerts in Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano (Rome), in Basilica di San Marco in Venezia on Easter, and the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence) in 2004.  

 

At age eleven, after open air concerts, and competitions in Los Angeles, whilst playing Paganini and Vivaldi Concertos she was mentioned as an “exceptional natural talent, she amazingly played Vivaldi and sang Sacred songs… a true young prodigy.” Venicia´s early musical studies were rigorously enriched through violin and theory lessons with inventor/violinist Gregory Shir and through composition/piano lessons with Prof. Dr. Brennan. Her first vocal mentors are Milena Kitic and Biserka Cvejic. Private Lessons: with Kammersängerin Christa Lehnert, Julia Varady- Fischer-Dieskau, KS Felicia Weathers, Ines Salazar, Stephanie Vlahos, Dubravka Zubovic, Walter Donati, Amelia Felle, Christiane Libor and with coaches/ conductors: Met. Coach: Yelena Kurdina, Bo Price, Harald Braun, Howard Arman, Klaus Walz, Kosta Popovic, Matthias Hammerschmitt, Christian Gedschold, Markus Hadulla, Peter Sommer, Ulrich Eisenlohr, Ovidio Baran, Mirco Roverelli etc. 

 

“A talent like Ms. Rasmussen can indeed be described as absolutely extraordinary, unusual rare. Vocal absolutely outstanding, stylistically amazingly versatile, of intuitive musicality and linguistic talent.” (Professor Harald Braun)

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