Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian makes belated Metropolitan Opera debut as Madame Butterfly
NEW YORK (AP) — Asmik Grigorian laughs when she recalls that she had been singing professionally for more than a decade when the International Opera Awards proclaimed her the “best young female singer” of 2016.
“So for 12 years I was nothing, and then I immediately became the best!” the Lithuanian soprano joked in an interview.
Now at the peak of her career and seemingly able to sing just about any role she chooses, from Dvorak’s lyrical “Rusalka” to Puccini’s dramatic “Turandot,” Grigorian is about to make her Metropolitan Opera debut in another Puccini classic, “Madame Butterfly.”
“My only regret is not having booked her sooner,” said Met general manager Peter Gelb. “Asmik is an operatic force of nature, one of the greatest and most complete vocal and acting packages in recent operatic history.”
Growing up in Vilnius she had plenty of exposure to opera. Both her parents, tenor Gegam Grigorian and soprano Irena Milkeviciute, were opera singers and both appeared at the Met, where Asmik traveled with them while a young girl.
Related articles
Husband of Florida woman missing in Spain is charged with her disappearance
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The estranged husband of a Florida woman who disappeared three months a2024-05-07Video shows raid on ship near Strait of Hormuz that a Mideast official says was carried out by Iran
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A video seen by The Associated Press shows commandos raiding a sh2024-05-07Community papers to be digitalised to preserve Aotearoa's history
File image. Photo: Unsplash / Tim Mossholder2024-05-07National candidate heads to easy victory in Port Waikato by
Andrew Bayly Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone2024-05-07Agricultural Bank of China sees loan increase of 1.2 trln yuan in Q1
BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), one of the country's largest commercial2024-05-07'Highly respected' tramper still missing in Pureora Forest after two weeks
Judy Donovan has not been seen since 23 March. Photo: Supplied / The Outdoor Access Commission2024-05-07
atest comment