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Ahlima Mhamdi Biography
The Franco-Moroccan mezzo-soprano, Ahlima Mhamdi, studied at the CNSMD in Lyon, where she was taught by Isabelle Germain and Fabrice Boulanger and graduated with distinction. She won the First Prize for both «Opera» and «French Song» at the Marmande International Vocal Competition in 2015, and Second Prize, the Audience Prize and the “Cité de la Voix” Prize in the Mâcon International Singing Competition in 2016. She was also nominated as ADAMI’s “Révélation de l’année” and is a former winner of the Nice Wagner Circle’s bursary.
Ahlima was admitted to the New Opera Studio at the Opéra de Lyon for the 2011/12 season. From September 2013, she was part of the Young Soloists Ensemble of the Grand Théâtre de Genève, where she sang roles such as Fenena Nabucco, Preziosilla La Forza del destino, Maddalena Rigoletto, Meg Page Falstaff, Martine Le Médecin malgré lui, and Schwertleite Die Walküre, working with names such as Robert Carsen, Laurent Pelly, Evelino Pidò and Paolo Arrivabeni.
She has sung the title role of Carmen more than 15 times at the Alden Biesen Festival (Belgium) and at Minsk’s Boïchoï. In spring 2016, she made her debut at the Chorégies d’Orange in the role of Flora Bervoix La Traviata with Plàcido Domingo.
Ahlima has sung Mercedes Carmen at the Thé atre des Champs-Elysé es, under the direction of Simone Young and with Marie- Nicole Lemieux and Michael Spyres, Smeton Anna Bolena at the Grand Opera d’Avignon, Maddalena Rigoletto at the Grand Opera de Tours, Martine Le Médecin malgré lui at the Opéra de Rennes, her many appearances include Verdi’s Requiem in Geneva’s Victoria Hall, L’Opinion Publique (Orphée aux Enfers) in Opéra de Reims, she came back as a guest in Grand Théâtre de Genève to sing Flosshilde and Schwertleite (der Ring ) and the 2nd Maid (Elektra). Carmen on tour in Belgium and Netherlands, Fenena Nabucco in Lausanne, Mercedes in Festival lyrique de Sanxsay, and had a big success in the title role of Carmen in Opera de Massy.
More recently, she has sung the title role of Carmen in 3 different productions: in Manège de Vienne, in Zénith de Dijon and a Carmen Al Andalus on tour with Opéra Eclaté in France, and she had a huge success.
Ahlima has many projects this season: The title role of Carmen in Opéra de Clermont-Ferrand, on tour with Opéra Eclaté in France, she will make her debuts as Mère Marie de l’Incarnation in Le Dialogue des Carmélites in Opéra de Massy, as Dorabella on tour in France and as La Belle Hélène on tour with Opéra Eclaté…
