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.
Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department becomes Spotify's most
Former Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Peter Barca announces new bid for Congress
Closing arguments set in trial of an Arizona rancher charged in fatal shooting of unarmed migrant
Hanna and Haley Cavinder say they're returning for last season at Miami
China completes selection of about 38,000 local gov't special bond projects
Barcelona to get floating desalination plant to help fight drought in northeastern Spain
Meta's newest AI model beats some peers. But its amped
Indianapolis man charged with murder in fatal shootings of 3 at apartment complex
RFK Jr says he loves his family ‘either way’ after relatives endorse Biden
Anze Kopitar scores in overtime, Kings beat Oilers 5
Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese are OVERPAID at $75k