Maria Guleghina
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2009
"To make a real difference to all children, we have to unite. I am thrilled to be working with UNICEF to help the children of the world who are impacted by poverty, hunger or caught in conflict – and whose voices must be heard."
Maria Guleghina is considered one of the world’s leading dramatic sopranos – the only one to have performed title roles in 16 new productions at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Since 1991, Maria has performed over 165 times at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
Maria has also performed solo recitals all over the world, including appearances at La Scala, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Lille, Sao Paolo, Wigmore Hall, Suntory Hall, Mariinsky Theatre, Osaka, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Rome, Teatro Colon, Teatro Bellas Artes and Moscow.
The “Russian Soprano with Verdi in her Veins” is the recipient of numerous awards: Premio Puccini 2009 (for Best Puccini Performance), Giovanni Zanatello Prize (for her debut at the Arena di Verona), Maria Zamboni gold medal, 1999 gold medal at the Osaka Festival, 2001 Bellini Prize, the Arte e Operosita nel Mondo Prize from Milan, and others. Maria is an honorary board member of the International Paralympic Committee and was awarded the Order of Holy Olga, the Highest Order of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In February 2009, Maria was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for children. In 2010, she visited Belarus to meet with children and adolescents supported through UNICEF programmes.