Emilia Bertolini is an Australian soprano of Irish-Italian heritage, forging a vibrant and eclectic career across the UK and Europe. A specialist in Baroque repertoire, she is increasingly in demand both as a soloist and ensemble singer with leading period-instrument ensembles and vocal groups.
She was awarded first prize at the Concours Corneille in Rouen and the Young Talent Award as a finalist in the inaugural Cavalli Monteverdi Competition in Cremona.
Operatic highlights include the title role in Eccles’ Semele with La Risonanza in Milan, Aci in Handel’s Aci, Galatea e Polifemo at London’s Baroquestock Festival with Christian Curnyn, Ninfa in Monteverdi’s Orfeo at the Teatro Ponchielli di Cremona with Il Pomo d’Oro, Cupid in Blow’s Venus and Adonis at the Ryedale Festival and Baroquestock Festival, and Drusilla and Fortuna in L’Incoronazione di Poppea with La Venexiana. Recent concert appearances include Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with Le Poème Harmonique in Nice under Vincent Dumestre and solo recitals at Festival Radio France Montpellier and Nouvelles Voix en Normandie.
In 2025, Emilia continues to sing regularly with ensembles including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Gabrieli Consort, Chamber Choir Ireland and the BBC Singers, alongside solo collaborations with La Risonanza, Le Poème Harmonique, Intende Voci, Ghislieri Musica, and the Oxford Bach Soloists.
During her time at the Royal Academy of Music, Emilia took part in several performances as part of the Bach Series with John Butt, Jane Glover, Philippe Herreweghe, and Masaaki Suzuki, and appeared in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen under Laurence Cummings. She also performed in a four-voice ensemble in the world premiere of Alexander Goehr’s Combat of Joseph della Reina and the Devil with the Nash Ensemble at Wigmore Hall.
Emilia holds a Master of Arts (Vocal Studies) from the Royal Academy of Music in London and is generously supported by the Tait Memorial Trust. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Melbourne, graduating with first-class Honours in Music and Diplomas in French and Italian. She was the 2020 Opera Scholars Australia Aria Competition Winner, and was a Melba Opera Trust scholar, receiving both the Paulette Bisley and Wright-Smith Scholarships.