Inva Mula-Tchako

Composers

Biography

Born: 1963; Tirana, Albania  
Soprano Inva Mulla-Tchako has a notable international career, though she is best known to the world at large for one of the strangest operatic portrayals in film history. The singer (whose name is rendered by various sources as Inva Mula Tchako, Inva Mulla Tchako, Inva Mulla-Tchako, and simply Inva Mula) studied (singing and piano) in her native city of Tirana, Albania. In 1987, she won the first prize in the Singer of Albania competition. After Read more the fall of the Stalinist government of Albania, she was able to travel to Bucharest in September 1991, where she was a prizewinner in the George Enescu Competition. She won The Grand Prix Madama Butterfly in Barcelona in 1992, and a leading prize in the first Plácido Domingo International Voice Competition in May 1993. This led to her singing with the famous tenor in a concert at the Opéra-Garnier in Paris, an event recorded on the Sony Classics label and released under the title The First Plácido Domingo International Voice Competition Gala Concert on which she sang Qui la voce sua soave from Bellini's I Puritani, and duets from L'elisir d'amore, Don Giovanni, and La Traviata. Mulla-Tchako and Domingo repeated the program in Brussels, Munich, and Oslo. All this attention led to invitations to perform throughout Europe and elsewhere. She won widespread acclaim for stunning vocal purity and a secure, polished technique, and musical projection of a sustained line. She is a lyric soprano with strong abilities in bel canto and coloratura parts, and is particularly valued for her performances in Mozart. Her range is wide enough that she also sings the lighter Verdi roles, such as Nanetta in Falstaff and Gilda in Rigoletto, but also Violetta in La Traviata. Other roles in her repertory are Antonia in Les contes d'Hoffmann; Micaela in Carmen; Tanit Zerga in Falla's L'Atlantide; both Musetta and Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème; Nedda in Pagliacci; Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia; Norina in Don Pasquale; and Leila in Bizet's Les Pecheurs des Perles.

But the part that made her a cult name, outside the circle of opera fans, was her voicing of the role of The Diva in Jean-Luc Besson's film The Fifth Element. She sang an aria from Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (straight) and The Diva Dance (with, presumably, electronic assists on humanly impossible high notes); her singing was mimed on stage by French actress Maïwenn Le Besco as Diva Plavalaguna, a very tall, blue space alien with eight tentacles. Inva's career has continued since then, with appearances in several opera houses in Europe (including La Scala in Milan, the Ravenna Festival, the Verona Arena and Theater, Marseilles, Paris National Opera, Montpellier, and the Vienna State Opera), in Turkey, and in the United States at the Chicago Lyric Opera, and the Los Angeles Opera. The latter has invited her back on several occasions. She sang the role of Lisette in Puccini's La rondine with Antonio Pappano conducting, an EMI release that won The Gramophone Award as Record of the Year, 1997. She makes her home, and bases her career, in Paris. Read less
Browse 1-18 of 18 Available Recordings
  • 1.
    Bizet: Carmen / Plasson, Gheorghiu, Alagna, Mula, Hampson
    Bizet: Carmen / Plasson, Gheorghiu, Alagna, Mula, Hampson
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 359402 Release Date: 03/26/2013   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Angela Gheorghiu,  Roberto Alagna,  Inva Mula-Tchako,  Thomas Hampson  ... 
    Conductor:  Michel Plasson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toulouse Capitole Orchestra,  Les Elements Chamber Choir,  La Lauzeta
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  • 2.
    Michel Plasson & L'Opera Francais [38-CD Set]
    Michel Plasson & L'Opera Francais [38-CD Set]
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 36363 Release Date: 10/09/2012   Number of Discs: 38
    Composer:  Albéric Magnard,  Jules Massenet,  Charles Gounod,  Jacques Offenbach  ... 
    Performer:  Nadine Denize,  Gary Lakes,  José Van Dam,  Hildegard Behrens  ... 
    Conductor:  Michel Plasson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toulouse Capitole Orchestra,  Orféon Donostiarra,  Toulouse Capitole Chorus  ... 
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  • 3.
    Ravel Complete Edition [14-CD Set]
    Ravel Complete Edition [14-CD Set]
    Label: Decca   Catalog: 001728702 Release Date: 10/09/2012   Number of Discs: 14
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel,  Claude Debussy
    Performer:  François-Joël Thiollier,  Jean-Yves Thibaudet,  Pierre-Laurent Aimard,  Ivo Pogorelich  ... 
    Conductor:  Simon Rattle,  Charles Dutoit,  Ernest Ansermet,  John Eliot Gardiner  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Melos Ensemble London,  Nash Ensemble,  Melos String Quartet Stuttgart  ... 
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  • 4.
    Opera 2012
    Opera 2012
    Label: Virgin Classics   Catalog: 70954 Release Date: 04/03/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Vincenzo Bellini,  Gaetano Donizetti,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Diana Damrau,  Joyce DiDonato,  Rolando Villazón,  Natalie Dessay  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano,  Dan Ettinger,  Kazushi Ono,  Marcello Viotti  ... 
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  • 5.
    Bizet: Carmen - Highlights / Alagna, Gheorgiu, Et Al
    Bizet: Carmen - Highlights / Alagna, Gheorgiu, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 94868 Release Date: 06/21/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Angela Gheorghiu,  David Alagna,  Inva Mula-Tchako,  Roberto Alagna  ... 
    Conductor:  Michel Plasson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toulouse Capitole Orchestra,  Les Elements Chamber Choir
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  • 6.
    Puccini: La Rondine / Pappano, Alagna, Gheorgiu, Mula, Rinaldi, Biccire
    Puccini: La Rondine / Pappano, Alagna, Gheorgiu, Mula, Rinaldi, Biccire
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 40748 Release Date: 11/09/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Unspecified
    Performer:  Alberto Rinaldi,  Inva Mula-Tchako,  Monica Bacelli,  Patrizia Biccire  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  London Voices
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  • 7.
    Georges Bizet: Carmen [highlights]
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 353014 Release Date: 01/13/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Roberto Alagna,  Ludovic Tézier,  Angela Gheorghiu,  Inva Mula-Tchako  ... 
    Conductor:  Michel Plasson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toulouse Capitole Orchestra
    CD: $13.99
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  • 8.
    Tenor [2 Cds + Dvd]
    Tenor [2 Cds + Dvd]
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 373383 Release Date: 01/13/2008   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Gaetano Donizetti,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Roberto Alagna,  Leontina Vaduva,  Enrico Fissore,  Angela Gheorghiu  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano,  Evelino Pidò,  Michel Plasson,  Richard Armstrong  ... 
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  • 9.
    Roberto Alagna - Tenor!
    Roberto Alagna - Tenor!
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 80793 Release Date: 01/16/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Gaetano Donizetti,  Charles Gounod  ... 
    Performer:  Roberto Alagna,  Leontina Vaduva,  Enrico Fissore,  Angela Gheorghiu  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano,  Evelino Pidò,  Michel Plasson,  Richard Armstrong  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Orchestra,  London Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 10.
    Moments Of Passion / Placido Domingo
    Moments Of Passion / Placido Domingo
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 700600 Release Date: 10/03/2006   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Domingo, Placido, Jr.,  Giacomo Puccini,  Agustín Lara,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Placido Domingo,  Jeff Kaye,  Orlando Hernández,  Mark Shubert  ... 
    Conductor:  Leonid Grin,  Luis Cobos,  Bebu Silvetti,  Zubin Mehta  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Saarland State Theater Opera Choir,  Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra,  Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus  ... 
    CD: $11.99
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  • 11.
    Bizet: Carmen - Highlights / Alagna, Gheorgiu, Et Al
    Bizet: Carmen - Highlights / Alagna, Gheorgiu, Et Al
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 57502 Release Date: 04/06/2004   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Angela Gheorghiu,  Inva Mula-Tchako,  David Alagna,  Roberto Alagna  ... 
    Conductor:  Michel Plasson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toulouse Capitole Orchestra,  Les Elements Chamber Choir
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  • 12.
    Ravel: Songs / Mula, Millot, Brua, Naouri, Abramovitz, Et Al
    Ravel: Songs / Mula, Millot, Brua, Naouri, Abramovitz, Et Al
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 8554176-77 Release Date: 01/20/2004   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Maurice Ravel
    Performer:  David Abramovitz,  Inva Mula-Tchako,  Valérie Millot,  Claire Brua  ... 
    CD: $19.99
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  • 13.
    Verdi: Falstaff / Muti, Maestri, Frittoli, Florez, Et Al
    Verdi: Falstaff / Muti, Maestri, Frittoli, Florez, Et Al
    Label: Euroarts   Catalog: 2051279 Release Date: 11/18/2003   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi
    Performer:  Juan Diego Flórez,  Ambrogio Maestri,  Barbara Frittoli,  Bernadette Manca di Nissa  ... 
    Conductor:  Riccardo Muti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Milan Teatro alla Scala Chorus,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra
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  • 14.
    Bizet: Carmen / Plasson, Gheorghiu, Alagna, Mula, Hampson
    Bizet: Carmen / Plasson, Gheorghiu, Alagna, Mula, Hampson
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 57434 Release Date: 02/25/2003   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Roberto Alagna,  Inva Mula-Tchako,  Thomas Hampson,  Elisabeth Vidal  ... 
    Conductor:  Michel Plasson
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Toulouse Capitole Orchestra,  Les Elements Chamber Choir,  La Lauzeta
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  • 15.
    Escape Through Opera - World's Best Collection Of Opera
    Escape Through Opera - World's Best Collection Of Opera
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 89370 Release Date: 03/06/2001   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Engelbert Humperdinck,  Giacomo Puccini,  Richard Wagner,  Gustave Charpentier  ... 
    Performer:  Ileana Cotrubas,  Frederica Von Stade,  Luciano Pavarotti,  Boje Skovhus  ... 
    Conductor:  John Pritchard,  Emerson Buckley,  James Conlon,  Georges Prêtre  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Cologne Children's Choir,  Cologne Gürzenich Orchestra,  Emilia Romagna Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $18.99
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  • 16.
    Puccini: La Rondine / Pappano, Gheorghiu, Alagna
    Puccini: La Rondine / Pappano, Gheorghiu, Alagna
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 56338 Release Date: 05/13/1997   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giacomo Puccini
    Performer:  Roberto Alagna,  Antonio Pappano,  Toby Spence,  Inva Mula-Tchako  ... 
    Conductor:  Antonio Pappano
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  London Voices
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  • 17.
    Opera - Greatest Hits
    Opera - Greatest Hits
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 66707 Release Date: 12/06/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gioachino Rossini,  Ruggero Leoncavallo,  Alexander Borodin,  Friedrich von Flotow  ... 
    Performer:  Agnes Baltsa,  Leo Nucci,  Luciano Pavarotti,  Richard Tucker  ... 
    Conductor:  Ion Marin,  Riccardo Chailly,  Emerson Buckley,  Emil Tchakarov  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna Symphony Orchestra,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra,  Emilia Romagna Arturo Toscanini Symphony Orchestra  ... 
    CD: $8.99
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  • 18.
    The First Placido Domingo International Voice Competition
    The First Placido Domingo International Voice Competition
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 46691 Release Date: 06/14/1994   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Manuel Penella,  Giuseppe Verdi,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Giacomo Puccini  ... 
    Performer:  Placido Domingo,  Kwangchul Youn,  Aïnhoa Arteta,  Nina Stemme  ... 
    Conductor:  Eugene Kohn
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bastille Opera Orchestra
    CD: $8.99
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