Malden High students blown away by opera performer

  Malden High School Italian class students were touched by a Malden professional opera singer performance in the auditorium last Friday morning.

  Opera singer Natalja Sticco, who lives in the Bell Rock area of the city, said that opera conveys emotion through song, often in other languages. “My mission is to make opera more approachable,” the Russian opera singer and IT engineer said.

  After the performance, students shared their thoughts with the Malden Advocate. Sophomore Matthew Goroshko, who is in Honors Italian class and involved in the drama club, called it one of the most amazing things he’s ever heard. “I’m speechless,” Goroshko said. “She inspires me, and it was soul-touching.”

  Sophomore Alejandra Fernandez said Sticco is talented and incredible. “It shows how someone in Malden can achieve their dreams with hard work,” Fernandez said. “I loved her performance.”

  Sophomore Karen Reyes, who sings soprano in chorus, said she learned a lot about singing in the workshop. “I like opera music a lot,” Reyes said. “She is a great inspiration.”

  Italian teacher Dr. Giuseppe Formato said he thinks the performance was incredible. “I learned how the Italian language and culture positively influenced Natalja’s life and also how they can serve as a way to bring the Malden community together, as a means to get students thinking about their passions and pursuing the arts, as was evident in the discussion portion of the workshop,” Formato said.

  Sticco moved to Malden in February 2020, and it was her first time performing at a school.