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Asmik Grigorian

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Asmik Grigorian
Asmik Grigorian
Born (1981-05-12) 12 May 1981 (age 43)
Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
OccupationOpera singer (soprano)
WebsiteOfficial website

Asmik Grigorian (born 12 May 1981 in Vilnius) is a Lithuanian operatic soprano of Armenian ancestry.

Life and career

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In 1999, Asmik Grigorian graduated from National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art in Vilnius. She studied music at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and graduated from it with a master's degree in 2006. Grigorian made her operatic debut in Christiansand (Norway) in 2004 as Donna Anna directed by Jonathan Miller, in 2005 she made her Lithuanian debut as Violetta also directed by Jonathan Miller, and in 2006 she became one of the founding members of Vilnius City Opera, singing in Puccini's La bohème (Mimi and Musetta), Leoncavallo's Pagliacci (Nedda), Verdi's Il trovatore, Puccini's Manon Lescaut, Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame and Eugene Onegin, Sweeney Todd, and Massenet's Werther. Grigorian later performed at the Latvian National Opera (in 2005 under the direction of Andres Jaegers) and the Mariinsky Theater, performing in Puccini's Il Trittico, Verdi's Otello, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Prokofiev's The Gambler, and Dvorak's Rusalka. She is the recipient of the highest Lithuanian theatre award, the Golden Stage Cross [lt], in 2005 and 2010.[1][2]

Since 2011, Grigorian has performed in various opera houses on the international stage. She was noted in operas such as Tchaikovsky's Nastasya in The Enchantress at the Theater an der Wien in September 2014 and as Tatiana in Eugene Onegin at the Komische Oper Berlin in 2016.[3][4][5]

In May 2016, Grigorian was honoured at the International Opera Awards in London as the Best Newcomer ("Young Female Singer").[6] In December 2016 she performed at the Royal Swedish Opera in the title role of Giordano's Fedora.[7][8] In her debut at the Salzburg Festival in August 2017, she sang the role of Marie in Alban Berg's Wozzeck to critical acclaim.[9][10] Rupert Christiansen of The Telegraph praised Grigorian as a "superb musician, with deep understanding of Bergian vocal style".[11]

Grigorian made her Edinburgh International Festival debut in August 2019 when Komische Oper Berlin brought their production of Eugene Onegin to Edinburgh.[12]

During the 2019/20 season, Asmik performed as Manon Lescaut at Oper Frankfurt, she also returned to her hometown of Vilnius where she performed as Polina in The Gambler. This role was reprised towards the end of her season at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Performances of Bellini's Norma Elektra by Richard Strauss and Janacek's Jenůfa were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asmik began her 2020/21 season as Madama Butterfly at the Vienna State Opera and then at the Mariinsky Theatre, then later in the season at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. She appeared as Lisa in Pique Dame at the Mariinsky Theatre, Dvorak's Rusalka at the Teatro Real in Madrid conducted by Ivor Bolton and the title role in Salome by Strauss at the Bolshoi Theatre conducted by Tugan Sokhiev. She performed as Senta in Wagner's Der fliegende Holländer at the Bayreuth Festival and in Elektra at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst.

Grigorian's 2021/22 season began with a house and role debut at the Royal Opera House in a new production of Jenůfa conducted by Henrik Nánási. In concert, she performed as part of the Deutsche AIDS-Stiftung [de] Gala at the Berlin State Opera, and as Marie in Drei Bruchstücke aus Wozzeck at the Teatro del Maggio and the Elbphilharmonie. At the Vienna State Opera, Asmik performs as Manon Lescaut. She went on a European tour with pianist Lukas Geniusas in support of their recently released album, Dissonance. Asmik returned to the Salzburg Festival to perform the three leading roles in a new production of Puccini's Il Trittico, directed by Christof Loy.[13]

Asmik commenced the 2022/23 season with a continuation of her album recital tour with pianist Lukas Geniusas.[14][15] She returned to two of her signature title-roles this season, firstly, in Rusalka at the Dvořák Prague festival[16] and then at the Royal Opera House and secondly, in Jenůfa at the Wiener Staatsoper.[17] Grigorian later appeared in the title-role of The Enchantress[18] and as Manon Lescaut at Oper Frankfurt.[19] She also made her Japanese debut as the title-role in Salome with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.[20] To end her season, Grigorian returned to the Salzburger Festspiele where she made her role debut as Lady Macbeth in Verdi's Macbeth. [21]

Her 2023/24 season began with Madama Butterfly in which she made her house debut at Arena di Verona..[22] In December 2023, she made her debut in Turandot at the Wiener Staatsoper next to Jonas Kaufmann in a new staging by Claus Guth.[23] On May 11, 2024, she sang Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly on her first Metropolitan Opera Live in HD transmission.

Grigorian is the official ambassador for the Rimantas Kaukenas Charity.[24]

Family

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Asmik Grigorian is the daughter of the Armenian tenor Gegham Grigoryan (1951–2016) and the Lithuanian soprano Irena Milkevičiūtė [lt] (b. 1947), LMTA professor. Her parents performed the leads in Madama Butterfly together at the Metropolitan Opera while Milkevičiūtė was pregnant with Asmik.[25]

She has two children, one son and one daughter.[26]

Grigorian also has three brothers, Irvidas Česaitis, Vartan Grigorian, who is a conductor, and Tigran Grigorian.[27]

Opera roles

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Role Opera/Musical Venue Date
Jenůfa Jenůfa Berlin State Opera[28]
Royal Opera House 		May 2022
September 2021
Marie Wozzeck Salzburg Festival 2017
Mrs. Lovett Sweeney Todd Vilnius City Opera[29] 2017
Salome Salome Bolshoi Theatre[30]
Salzburg Festival 		February 2022
2018
Tatiana Eugene Onegin Vienna State Opera[31]
Komische Oper Berlin 		October 2021
2016, 2019
Manon Lescaut Manon Lescaut Vienna State Opera February 2022
Liza Pique Dame La Scala February 2022
Cio-Cio San Madama Butterfly Royal Swedish Opera
Deutsche Oper Berlin
Metropolitan Opera 		November 2021
May 2021
April 2024
Fedora Fedora Oper Frankfurt[32] May 2022
Rusalka Rusalka Royal Opera House
Teatro Real[33] 		April 2022
2020
Nastasya The Enchantress Theater an der Wien September 2014
Chrysothemis Elektra Salzburg Festival July 2021
Senta Der Fliegende Holländer Bayreuth Festival July 2021
Polina The Gambler Lithuanian National Opera[34] March 2021
Turandot Turandot Vienna State Opera December 2023

Early roles

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Role Opera/Musical
Argie Les Paladins
Violetta La Traviata
Mimi
Musetta 		La bohème
Charlotte Werther
Johanna Barker Sweeney Todd
Susanna
Contessa 		Le Nozze di Figaro
Alcina Alcina
Armida Rinaldo
Leonora Il Trovatore
Micaëla Carmen
Nedda Pagliacci
Mariya Mazepa
Donna Anna
Donna Elvira 		Don Giovanni
Pamina
Papagena 		Die Zauberflöte
Anoush Anoush
"Elle" La voix humaine
Mary Magdalene Jesus Christ Superstar
Esmeralda Notre-Dame de Paris

Concert repertoire

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Awards

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  • Ópera XXI: Female Opera Singer of the Year (2022) [35]
  • Best female singer in International Opera Awards (2019)[36]
  • Order for Merits to Lithuania, Knight's Cross (2018)
  • Best emerging artist in International Opera Awards (2016)
  • Austrian Theater Awards – Best Leading Role (2019)
  • Opernwelt Critics Choice – Singer of the Year (2019)
  • Franco Abbiati award (2020)
  • Olivier Award (Jenůfa) for best production (2022)
  • Order for Merits to Lithuania, Knight's Cross (2018)
  • Stage Cross in 2005 for Best Debut as Violetta
  • Stage Cross in 2009 for Best Singer for Mrs. Lovett
  • Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts (2019)
  • Armenian Movses Khorenatsi Medal, (2021)
  • Sängerin des Jahre: OPUS KLASSIK Award Winner, (2023)
  • Österreichischer Musiktheaterpreis: "Special Jury Prize", (2024)[37]

Discography

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DVDs

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See also

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Lithuanian opera

References

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  1. ^ "Asmik Grigorian". www.mariinsky.ru. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Gegam Grigorian, opera singer – obituary". The Telegraph. 30 March 2016. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Rezension zu Charodeyka am Theater an der Wien, Tiroler Tageszeitung, Mo, 15.09.2014". Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Rezension zu Eugen Onegin an der Komischen Oper Berlin, Kieler Nachrichten, 3. Feb. 2016". Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Premierenkritik Eugen Onegin an der Komischen Oper Berlin. In: Der Neue Merker, Wien". Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  6. ^ Preisträgerliste der International Opera Awards 2016
  7. ^ Laura Servidei (12 December 2016). "Asmik Grigorian a heartfelt lead in Fedora, framed by Christof Loy in Stockholm". Backtrack. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  8. ^ Jochen Rüth (11 December 2016). "Umberto Giordanos FEDORA – Premiere am 10.12.2016 – Packende Leidenschaft" (in German). Der Opernfreund (Zeitschrift). Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  9. ^ Christoph Irrgeher (9 August 2017). "Unter Mörderpuppen – Salzburger Festspiele: Alban Bergs "Wozzeck" als Vorspiel zum Ersten Weltkrieg" (in German). Wiener Zeitung. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Salzburger Festspiele – Helle Begeisterung für düsteren "Wozzeck"" (in German). Kleine Zeitung. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  11. ^ "A stupendous, faith-restoring production – Wozzeck, Salzburg Festival, review", The Telegraph, 9 August 2017.
  12. ^ "Eugene Onegin". Edinburgh International Festival. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Il trittico • Giacomo Puccini • Salzburg Festival 2022 • Tickets • Opera in Salzburg". Salzburger Festspiele. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Recital de la soprano Asmik Grigorian y Lukas Geniusas al piano | Temporada Lírica 2022 de Amigos de la Ópera de A Coruña – 1 September 2022". Quincemil (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Spielplan – Oper Frankfurt". oper-frankfurt.de. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  16. ^ www.perspectivo.cz, Perspectivo s r o. "Dvořák Prague International Music Festival – Rusalka | Czech Philharmonic". ceskafilharmonie.cz. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  17. ^ Staatsoper, Wiener. "Jenufa". upstream.wiener-staatsoper.at (in German). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  18. ^ "The season, day by day – Oper Frankfurt". oper-frankfurt.de. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  19. ^ "The season, day by day – Oper Frankfurt". oper-frankfurt.de. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  20. ^ "『歌劇 サロメ』". ミューザ川崎シンフォニーホール (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  21. ^ "Macbeth". Salzburg Festival. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Madama Butterfly". www.arena.it. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  23. ^ Staatsoper, Wiener. "Turandot". upstream.wiener-staatsoper.at. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  24. ^ "About the support fund". Rimantas Kaukėnas chrarity group. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Stars Align". www.metopera.org. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  26. ^ Zobl, Susanne; Sichrovksy, Heinz (14 February 2022). ""Es geht nicht um Kunst, nur noch um Gurgeln"". news.at (in German). Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  27. ^ "A. Grigorian pirmą kartą dainuoja diriguojant broliui Vartanui | Lietuvos nacionalinis operos ir baleto teatras".
  28. ^ "Jenůfa | Staatsoper Berlin". www.staatsoper-berlin.de. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  29. ^ mmeshka (17 October 2017), Mrs Lovett, retrieved 14 June 2022
  30. ^ "10 February 2022 (Thu), 19:00 - Richard Strauss "Salome" Opera in one act (Opera) - World famous Bolshoi Ballet and Opera theatre (established 1776) - Marvellous Main (Historic) Stage - BolshoiMoscow.com". bolshoimoscow.com. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  31. ^ Staatsoper, Wiener. "Eugen Onegin". upstream.wiener-staatsoper.at. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Spielplan – Oper Frankfurt". oper-frankfurt.de. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Dvořák's Rusalka". www.medici.tv. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  34. ^ "The Gambler – Lithuanian National Opera & Ballet". OperaVision. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Ópera XXI Awards". OperaVision. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Lithuanian wins best singer at International Opera Awards". Lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 30 April 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Der Österreichische Musiktheaterpreis - Der Österreichische Musiktheaterpreis" (in German). 21 June 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  38. ^ "WAGNER Der fliegende Holländer (Bayreuth 2021)". www.deutschegrammophon.com (in German). Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  39. ^ "Puccini: Il Trittico". Presto Music. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  40. ^ Shop, Royal Ballet and Opera. "Dvořák: Rusalka DVD (The Royal Opera)". Royal Ballet and Opera Shop. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  41. ^ "Verdi: Macbeth (Salzburger Festspiele, Großes Festspielhaus, Regie: Krzysztof Warlikowski, 2023)". www.naxos.de. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
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