Natalia Rom, soprano, was born in Kazan, in the Soviet Union (also the city of Feodor Chaliapin's birth), on May 14, 1950, and graduated (as a conductor) from the Leningrad Conservatory.
In late 1976, she emigrated to New Orleans, where she attended Loyola University's College of Music, and studied voice with Patricia Havranek.
The soprano's Metropolitan Opera debut was as Mimì in La bohème (in 1983, with Patricia Craig, Dano Raffanti, Richard Stilwell, Mario Sereni, James Morris, and Italo Tajo, conducted by James Levine), subsequently performing Tatiana in Eugene Onegin (opposite Leo Nucci and Paul Plishka) and Emma in the new production of Khovanschina (with Martti Talvela) at the house.
In concert, the soprano has been heard with Utah Opera (Act I of Otello, with James McCracken), Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Pique-dame), Cincinnati May Festival (conducted by James Conlon), Houston Symphony, Pro Arte Chorale (Verdi Requiem), Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus (Shostakovich's Symphony No.14), Dallas Opera, Ravinia Festival (with Levine at the piano), and The New Opera Theatre.
[2] Mme Rom may be seen on the DVD of the Met's 1984 production of Francesca da Rimini (as Biancofiore), with Renata Scotto, Plácido Domingo, and Cornell MacNeil.