Comberti was born to a German mother and an Italian father in London on 28 September 1952. She was known by the name Mica from an early age. Comberti demonstrated a talent for music from an early age; aged 19 she travelled to Vienna to study with the violinist
Eduard Melkus at the
University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with her experiences directing her to historical performances. She returned to the United Kingdom in 1972. Comberti spent the following three years under the tutelage of
Manoug Parikian at the
Royal Academy of Music, London. She subsequently went back to Vienna for two years and underwent further education at the
Mozarteum University Salzburg as a pupil of
Sándor Végh, whom had a profound influence on her life. Comberti had her interest in historical performance strengthened by attending the classes of
Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She returned to the United Kingdom for a second time in 1977 to become involved in
early music. Comberti played for a number of ensembles, record the scores of
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and
Joseph Haydn with the
Salomon Quartet from 1982 on and was principal player of
The English Concert until 1990. Comberti left The English Concert in 1990 and began to lead orchestras for the
St. James' Baroque, and
Ex Cathedra from 1987, and was a guest of other established groups. She played as a soloist with the
Collegium Musicum 90 and recorded the
Concerto for Two Violins for them. Comberti recorded the sonatas of
Johann Sebastian Bach with the harpsichordist and long-time musical partner
Colin Tilney. She taught at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama and then at the
Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. Comberti was also associated with the Dartington Summer School and Festival. From 1999 on she trained the
Bavarian State Opera in period style for several of its productions of
Claudio Monteverdi and
George Frideric Handel and enhanced the reputation of the opera for its performances of the latter composer within Germany. Comberti undertook a similar venture with the
Hamburg State Opera in 2002. Her final public performance was with the violinist
Simon Standage in February 2003. ==Personal life==