Photo: Tatiana Villaseñor
"Singing is my life, my way to breathe; that´s why I came to the world"
Graciela Rivera-Quiroz
THE VOICE OF THE SOUL
The German-Mexican soprano began her musical journey with her father, a mariachi singer with a deep appreciation for classical music. From a young age, she was immersed in traditional Mexican music, learning to sing bolero and pop. Her first encounter with classical singing, awakened in her the most wonderful physical and emotional sensations. The first time she sang an aria, an indescribable love for opera arose within her, and so she found her artistic truth:
"Singing is the voice of the soul."
She attended the Mexican National Conservatory where she studied with the soprano Minerva Hernandez, graduating with honors in 2012. As scholarship holder, she participated in the first
International Academic Exchange between the Mexican Conservatory and the Herberger College
of Fine Arts in Arizona, USA, under the direction of Professor Anne Elgar Kopta, where she also explored the musical genre.
Dancing has always been her passion; she was part of the choreographic workshop led by dancer Gloria Contreras at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she honed her skills in ballet modern dance, choreography, and acting.
As a soloist, Graciela Rivera made her debut with the Chamber Orchestra of the Institute of Fine
Arts (INBA) in Mexico under the direction of John Rutter. She also performed as a soprano with
the National Madrigal Choir of the Institute of Fine Arts, recording the CD album "Voces del Alma"
with them. She has also sung in vocal ensembles such as L'Altalena Ensamble Vocal, Ensamble
Coral Bel Canto, and Ensamble Vocal Cantera.
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With her remarkable vocal versatility, she performed for several years as lead vocalist with Ensamble Quimera, a chamber orchestra specialized in anime and film music. Together they composed two original themes for manga and card games, and recorded the main theme for the AniFest Film Festival in 2010 and 2011, as well as two CD albums: "Overture" and "Rebirth." In 2013, they won first prize in the music category for Best Original Song at the Caminos de la Libertad Competition hosted by the Mexican TV Network Azteca.
Passion for continuous learning and her admiration for the language and culture brought her to Germany as a scholarship recipient of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). In 2016, she earned a Master's degree in Music Performance from the Würzburg University of Music under the guidance of Prof. Monika Bürgener. A few years later, she became a German citizen.
Throughout her studies in Mexico and Europe, she was awarded several scholarships, including the Outstanding Young Artists scholarship from the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA), the Tarte a la crème Offenbach Operetta Studio led by André Dos Santos, the Live Music Now Foundation of Yehudi Menuhin, and recognition from the Richard Wagner Association.
Grotesque Films
Photo: Nancy Rivera
Photo: Rodrigo Romero
Graciela Rivera has already gained extensive experience in the opera scene in Mexico and Europe. In Germany, she made her debut as Violetta Valéry in Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata at the Rheinsberg Festival in Brandenburg. In Switzerland, she made her debut as Konstanze in W.A. Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail with the Graubünden Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Philippe Bach and Anthony Pilavachi. In Mexico, she sang roles such as Leila in G. Bizet's LES PÊCHEURS DE PERLES, Norina in G. Donizetti's DON PASQUALE, Donna Anna in W.A. Mozart's DON GIOVANNI, and Adina in G. Donizetti's L'ELISIR D'AMORE.
Photo: Henry Mundt
Photo: Fabian Cadena
2011 She sang the Mexican premiere of Andrew Beall's SONG OF ALMAH and later at the Friedrich Loewe Theater of the NYU in New York City and in 2013 the Mexican premieres of LE MARIAGE AUX LANTERNES by J. Offenbach in the role of Cathérine and THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA by Benjamin Britten in the role of Lucia.
She was also a soloist with various orchestras, including the Veracruz Youth Camerata, the Frankfurt Symphony Orchestra, and the Brandenburg Symphony Orchestra.
With the Opera Studio of the Würzburg University of Music, she sang the lead role in DAS
SCHLAUE FÜCHSLEIN by L. Janaček, Diane in HIPPOLYTE ET ARICIE by Jean-Philippe Rameau,
Governess in Benjamin Britten's THE TURN OF THE SCREW, and Sandrina in LA FINTA GIARDINIERA by W. A. Mozart.
Photo: Sören Balendat
Graciela Rivera has also been a finalist in various international competitions and is a prizewinner
of the International Rheinsberg Singing Competition (Berlin), the International Haldenstein Singing
Competition (Chur), and the National Mexican Concert Music Singing Competition. As part of the
Singing Excellence Laboratory under the direction of Hedwig Fassbender at the Académie de
Villecroze, France, she founded the RIANDO LiedDuo with pianist Tatiana Orloff, with whom they
won first prize at the 2019 International Feurich Competition in Vienna.
Her dedication to chamber music brought her to the Nuremberg University of Music. 2024 she
completed a master's degree in Art Song Interpretation by Prof. Marcelo Amaral, there she
founded the RIVERA&PAVLENKO DUO with pianist Maryna Pavlenko.
Graciela Rivera's artistic work is influenced by her collaborations with renowned figures in the classical music world including Brigitte Fassbaender, Juliane Banse, Irwin Gage, Helmut Deutsch, Magdalena
Hajóssyová, Eva Randová, Roberto Abbondanza, Isabel Gentile and Mariella Devia. She also works intensively with pianist Holger
Berndsen, with whom she founded the Cantera Ensamble in 2015.
Photo: Sybille Wagner
Photo: Sören Balendat
Graciela frequently showcases her musical projects and is a dedicated singing teacher, sharing her passion for classical music with the next generation. Recently, she established the Bel Canto Vocal Studio in Franken, Germany.
Photo: Marco Hartmann