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Kristine Opolais. A Grand Concert with Choir and Orchestra.Kristine Opolais is one of the leading sopranos on today’s operatic stage, an artist whose work unites dramatic power, vocal suppleness, and a deep psychological understanding of character. Born in Latvia, she studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, and her professional path began at the Latvian National Opera, where, under the artistic direction of Andris Žagars, she developed her distinctive stage identity — emotionally open yet always rigorously musical. It was during this period that Opolais received her first major roles, which soon led her to international stages.
Her rise to worldwide acclaim was swift: after debuts at Staatsoper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper, and the Royal Opera House, critics wrote about her rare ability to infuse roles with inner truth and emotional clarity. The Puccini repertoire became especially significant for Opolais: her Cio-Cio-San, Manon Lescaut, and Tosca have long secured her reputation as one of the most compelling interpreters of these roles. The New York Times described Opolais as “an irresistible actress — fragile and honest,” highlighting her combination of vocal flexibility and psychological precision.
Reviews have noted that “her voluptuous, expressive voice soars easily over Puccini’s dense orchestration,” and that her rendition of Un bel dì appears “almost intimate — as though sung only for herself” (New York Classical Review). Bachtrack wrote that Opolais “fully inhabits the character and achieves genuine dramatic impact,” while critic Simon Parris remarked on her soprano, “shimmering with golden hues.”
Her collaborations with leading conductors — Andris Nelsons, Antonio Pappano, Daniel Barenboim, Fabio Luisi, Kirill Petrenko, Simon Rattle, Kent Nagano — resulted in a series of notable productions at the Metropolitan Opera, where Opolais became the only singer to appear on stage twice within 24 hours in two different leading roles — a unique event in the history of world opera.
Her discography includes recordings under Nelsons and Pappano, and her live performances have frequently served as the basis for international releases. Critics emphasize the individuality of her timbre — recognizable, rich, capable of the subtlest dynamic shading and a wide dramatic range.
Opolais appears at major festivals across Europe and the United States, including Baden-Baden, Tanglewood, Verbier, and the Salzburg Easter Festival, and she continues to expand her repertoire — from late Romanticism to contemporary opera. In her concert programmes, she combines large-scale works with more intimate pieces, creating musically and dramatically cohesive evenings.
Her artistry is a continuous search. Critics note that “Opolais is an artist unafraid of risk; she always goes toward the place where art emerges.” It is this fearlessness that makes each of her performances an event — not only musically, but artistically.
On this evening, Kristine will perform not only the beloved arias that have become milestones of her artistic career, but also new large-scale works written for voice and choir — pages of expansive dramatic sound in which her artistry reveals itself with particular brilliance.
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Event Venue
Dzintaru koncertzāle, Turaidas iela 1,Jurmala, Latvia
Tickets
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