Mezzo-soprano Adriana Bastidas-Gamboa was born in Cali, Colombia, and completed her vocal studies at the conservatory in her hometown, supplemented by postgraduate studies at the Cologne University of Music. In the 07/08 season, she was a member of the International Opera Studio at Cologne Opera and joined the Cologne Opera ensemble in 2008, where she has been a permanent member ever since.

At the Cologne Opera, she has performed in a variety of roles, including Martina Laborde in Peter Eötvös' „Love and Other Demons,“ the title roles in Bizet's „Carmen“ and Handel's „Rinaldo,“ Maddalena in „Rigoletto,“ Dorabella in „Così fan tutte,“ Olga in „Eugene Onegin,“ Suzuki in „Madama Butterfly,“ Judith in „Duke Bluebeard's Castle,“ Faust/a in „The Song of the Women of the River,“ Preziosilla in „La forza del destino,“ Margarita in York Höller's „Master and Margarita,“ Le Pélérin in L'amour de loin, and Rosina in Ruth Berghaus's production of Il barbiere di Siviglia. She has also appeared repeatedly in this role at the Berlin State Opera.

Her most recent roles include Angelina in Rossini's „La Cenerentola,“ the title role in Purcell's „Miranda,“ Federica in Verdi's „Luisa Miller,“ Cornelia in „Giulio Cesare in Egitto,“ Virtù & Ottavia in „L’Incoronazione di Poppea,“ Mother in Hänsel und Gretel, Zia Francesca in Frank Pesci's „The Strangers,“ and Mrs. Sedly in „Peter Grimes.“

In May 2012, she was awarded the Offenbach Prize in recognition of her outstanding achievements at the Cologne Opera. In 2013, she released her first solo CD, entitled „Un viaggio in Italia,“ which took listeners on a musical journey through the stages of her career. At the Munich Opera Festival of the Bavarian State Opera in 2016, she appeared in the role of Penthesilea, composed especially for her, in the world premiere of Hauke Berheide's opera „Mauerschau.“ This was followed by Felix Leuschner's „Requiem für einen Lebenden“ at the 2019 Opera Festival. She also sang under the musical direction of Gabriel Feltz in Verdi's Requiem with the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra, Judith in „Duke Bluebeard's Castle“ with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra, and with the Flemish Symphony Orchestra and Jan Latham-Koenig in „El amor brujo“ by Manuel de Falla.

In the 24/25 season, her roles at the Cologne Opera included the title roles in „Carmen“ and „Maria de Buenos Aires,“ Medoro in „Orlando,“ Fenena in „Nabucco,“ the First Maid in „Elektra,“ and Cornelia in „Giulio Cesare in Egitto.“

In 25/26, she appeared in „Manon Lescaut,“ as Erda in „Das Rheingold,“ as Angelina in „La Cenerentola,“ as Schwertleite in „Die Walküre,“ as Woman in „Picture a day like this,“ and in the title role in „Tancredi,“ among others.

In the 26/27 season, she will appear as Cain in Alessandro Scarlatti’s „Cain and Abel“ in Dietrich W. Hilsdorf’s acclaimed production, which premiered at the Aalto-Theater Essen in 2020. She will also perform the roles of Lucile / Rosita in Hans Werner Henze’s „La Piccola Cubana,“ presented on the occasion of the composer’s 100th birthday, and Erda in Richard Wagner’s „Siegfried,“ part of Paul-Georg Dittrich’s new Cologne Ring cycle. In Giuseppe Verdi’s „Macbeth,“ she will portray Lady Macbeth in Damiano Michieletto’s celebrated 2018 production, which was acclaimed at Teatro La Fenice. In addition, she will sing Maddalena in Giuseppe Verdi’s „Rigoletto“ as well as Virtù / Ottavia in Ted Huffman’s highly acclaimed production of Claudio Monteverdi’s „The Coronation of Poppea“.