Kristine Opolais: magical opera arias and a fascinating interview

Opera arias and an interview. Kristine Opolais sings moving opera arias and talks about the roles she embodies while singing. The opera star, who hails from Lithuania, reveals what motivates her to sing these particular roles, what dreams she associates with them, and what emotions the roles trigger in her. And Opolais also reveals how hugely challenging performing is for her and that it requires total self-control.

The interview took place on the occasion of a gala concert performed by the top soprano at the Latvian National Opera in 2016. Opolais was accompanied by the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sesto Quatrini. The program included eight of the most famous arias from operas by Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Alfredo Catalani and Arrigo Boito.

Watch the whole concert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFsUdPU-2Z0

At a glance:
(00:00) Salce, salce and Ave Maria (VERDI: Otello)
(15:52) Opolais on Verdi’s arias of Desdemona and Aida
(16:53) Ritorna vincitor! (VERDI: Aida)
(23:30) Opolais on her role as Aida in Verdi’s opera of the same name
(24:42) Ebben ne andro lontana (CATALANI: La Wally)
(28:18) Opolais on her collaboration with conductor Sesto Quatrini
(30:32) L’altra notte in fondo al mare (BOITO: Mefistofele)
(37:13) Opolais on her weakness for Puccini
(39:25) Un bel di vedremo (PUCCINI: Madama Butterfly)
(44:21) Opolais on her role as Manon Lescaut in Puccini’s opera of the same name
(45:45) Sola, perduta, abbandonata (PUCCINI: Manon Lescaut)
(51:02) Opolais on her role as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
(54:05) Con onor muore (PUCCINI: Madama Butterfly)
(1:00:31) Opolais on the challenges of performing
(1:02:42) O mio babbino caro (PUCCINI: Gianni Schicchi)

Born in 1979 into a musical family in Latvia, Opolais joined the choir of the Latvian National Opera in 2001. In 2006 she made her debut at the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden. Roles at La Scala in Milan and the Vienna State Opera followed. In 2014, Opolais went down in the history of the Metropolitan Opera New York by singing two premieres of Puccini operas two nights in a row. She began with the title role of Madama Butterfly, and the following day she stood in for another artist as Mimì in La Bohème. To this day, Opolais is considered one of the most sought-after Puccini interpreters in the opera world.

© EuroArts Music International / Latvian Television 2016

Thumbnail: © Tatyana Vlasova

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