Opolais wows New York audience

  • 2013-01-23
  • From wire reports

RIGA - Last week, Latvian opera diva Kristine Opolais made her debut as Magda in Puccini’s ‘La Rondine’ at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City with her performance being widely praised by the audience and critics alike, reports LETA. Opolais’ stage partner was Guiseppe Filianoti, the conductor was Ion Marin.
“Opolais lived up to expectations in ‘La Rondine.’ A lovely woman and an affectingly natural actress, she has a plush voice with a throbbing richness that lends a touch of poignancy to every phrase she sings, even when she is being coquettish. It took some courage to make her Met debut in a role she was singing for the first time,” wrote The New York Times.

Back in Riga, the new board of the Latvian National Opera (LNO), which will be appointed by the end of the year, should be made up of professionals, LNO Managing Director Andrejs Zagars told the LNT morning show ‘900 sekundes’ on Jan. 18.
Culture Ministry specialists and the opera are currently working on the board’s criteria. It is important for the board to be composed of management, financial and industry professionals for the opera to maintain its competitiveness, said Zagars.

He pointed out that he would like to continue heading the opera with this team of professionals and attain new, improved results.
In regard to LNO funding, Zagars said that it is sufficient for balancing the opera’s budget and the opera will not request additional funds from the government at the end of the year. He also expressed hope for gradual salary increases at the LNO.