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.
China's envoy in Washington urges U.S. to avoid Thucydides Trap in bilateral ties
Intangible cultural heritages from east China to adorn lunar new year celebration in Sydney
Intangible cultural heritages brings new color to Fujian's night economy
Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian makes belated Metropolitan Opera debut as Madame Butterfly
China's booming online audio and video industry tops 1 billion users
Homegrown chatbot throws hat in AI ring
Autumn flower festival opens in Moscow
China's Spring Festival box office record spirals upward
Mbappe nets twice in win over Lorient but PSG's title party delayed by Monaco victory
Xi'an to host Digital Silk Road Development Forum