The mezzo-soprano Francesca Russo Ermolli was born in Naples and studied piano, singing and French language and literature. She made her operatic début at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo in Provenzale’s La colomba ferita and the same composer’s Lo schiavo di sua moglie. She has appeared in major opera-houses throughout Italy in a repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Roberto Di Simone’s Lo vommaro a duello at the Naples Theatre Festival. Her engagements have included appearances in works by Paisiello, Traetta, Leo, Vivaldi, Jommelli and Alessandro Scarlatti, in addition to principal rôles in operas by Mozart and by Rossini.