Marie-Joe Abi-Nassif, Biography:

Marie-Joe Abi-Nassif has taken an unbeaten path — her journey is one of passion between the contrasting worlds of opera and law.

Marie-Joe is a professional operatic mezzo-soprano and has performed on world-renowned stages such as Carnegie Hall (New York), Salle Cortot (Paris) and the Varna State Opera House (Bulgaria). She is also a Partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice group of the international law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York. She previously practiced at Latham & Watkins LLP and also served as a lecturer at the University of Paris II Pantheon-Assas.

She is a graduate of Columbia Law School from which she received an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in 2015. She holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Pantheon-Assas and an LL.B. in law from Saint Joseph University. She has also pursued courses in opera performance, solfeggio, music theory, and musicianship at the Juilliard School and pursued piano studies at the Lebanese Higher National Conservatory of Music. Determined to take a leap in her musical education, she sought counsel in 2015 from the legendary soprano Virginia Zeani. Upon hearing her voice, Zeani urged her to pursue a career in opera and took her under her wing. Undeterred by her around-the-clock schedule as a lawyer, Marie-Joe seized on this unique opportunity. She devotedly traveled to Florida, where Zeani resides, to study roles and vocal technique.

While under the mentorship of Zeani, Marie-Joe was trained by prominent artists and coaches, including Thomas Bagwell (Royal Danish Opera), Gianluca Marcianò (Serbian National Theatre), Deborah Birnbaum (Metropolitan Opera), Francesca Pedaci (Bologna Conservatory) and Nicoleta Conti.

Her repertoire includes: Carmen (Carmen), Dorabella (Così fan Tutte), Sesto (La Clemenza di Tito), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Charlotte (Werther), Romeo (I Capuleti e i Montecchi), Mignon (Mignon), Stephano (Roméo et Juliette) and Erika (Vanessa).

In December 2016, Marie-Joe made her Carnegie Hall debut in a solo recital, accompanied by Thomas Bagwell. She was subsequently invited, upon the recommendation of the Presidency of the French Republic, to perform during the annual celebration of France’s national day. In November 2018, Marie-Joe performed a solo recital at the Salle Cortot in Paris. She also participated in concerts at the Varna State Opera (Bulgaria) and the Bulgarian National Radio under the baton of Nicoletta Conti. She was invited to the Lebanese Presidential Palace to perform with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.

She later performed the role of Zelatrice in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the New York Lyric Opera. Marie-Joe was selected by UNESCO to perform in a concert honoring the late Charles Aznavour at the UNESCO Palace (Paris). She was also selected to perform the role of Dorothée in Cendrillon at the Miami Music Festival and the roles of Ježibaba in Rusalka and Cecilia March in Little Women at the Trentino Music Festival. And recently, she performed a solo recital at the Saint-Joseph Church in Beirut accompanied by Denis Dubois of the Opéra National de Paris.

Toufic Maatouk, Conductor:

Toufic Maatouk has earned global recognition for leading major ensembles such as the Romanian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Orchestra Giovanile Mediterranea, Roma Sinfonietta, Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, Los Angeles Sinfonietta, Korean National University of Arts Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, and Académie de l’Opéra de Paris. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2015 and has performed at renowned festivals and venues such as the Festival d’Île de France, Radio Romania Hall in Bucharest, and Manaus Opera in Brazil. In 2018, he was first invited to conduct at the Baalbeck International Festival—the oldest musical festival in the Middle East, set against the breathtaking backdrop of ancient Roman ruins.

In 2012, he took on the prestigious position of Artistic Director at the acclaimed Beirut Chants Festival. A year later, he became Guest Conductor with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2017, he started a yearly collaboration with the Romanian Radio Orchestra.

Maatouk has been praised for his insightful direction and consummate command of the orchestra. Opera Magazine gave him a rave review for conducting Verdi’s Requiem at the Baalbeck International Festival: “His musical sensitivity was immediately evident from the first sounds of the cellos and the care in the search for a specific and symbolic sound. Right from those first thrilling moments, one could find the nuances that brought a distinctive feature to his enlightened reading”.

The Abu Dhabi Festival, of which Maatouk has been Programming Executive Manager and Deputy Executive Director, was voted by BBC Magazine as best classical programming in the Middle East. In his role as member of the Academic Board at the Global Leaders Institute in Washington, D.C., Maatouk has been recognised for his leadership in shaping significant musical projects across the Middle East. 

The conductor is renowned for his meticulous voice work with singers, especially in the Italian and French repertoires. Noteworthy performances include working with great artists such as Maria Agresta, Joyce El Khoury, Jessica Pratt and Daniela Barcellona. He conducted at the prestigious Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago and the XXVI Mese Pucciniano on the Centennial of Puccini. He debuted this year at the Tirana Opera House Orchestra & Choir in Albania. Maatouk is a jury member for prestigious competitions including the Ottavio Ziino International Lyric Competition and Voce Verdiane International Competition. 

For his valuable contribution to the arts, he was knighted with the “Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella d’Italia” by the President of the Italian Republic in 2020. In 2023, the French Ministry of Culture similarly bestowed upon him the title of “Chevalier des arts et des lettres.”

Maatouk studied conducting under Ennio Nicotra and Donato Renzetti. He holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra in Rome and has various publications with Éditions Geuthner in France. He has recorded 13 albums focusing on Maronite liturgical compositions, aiming to preserve this ancient musical tradition. 

Lately, Maatouk made his debut at the Abu Dhabi Festival, conducted Donizetti’s Rita at the Bucharest Opera Festival, and led a new production of Carmen at the Baalbeck International Festival. Upcoming engagements include his debut with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in May 2026, among several other projects.

*Biography cannot be shifted without the approval of Thomas Yaksic @TYBArts

  Email: Thomas@tybarts.com