Asmik Grigorian: A Diva Is Born

Asmik Grigorian presents her fantastic and one-of-a-kind programme, “A Diva Is Born.” “Once, I told myself: I’ll achieve enough in opera that nobody can doubt me, and then I’ll sing whatever I want,” says Asmik Grigorian. The first part of her promise to herself came true beyond all expectations. The strangest thing is that the second part came true at the same time: Asmik realised that opera was exactly what she wanted to sing. Once she understood this, she decided to tell the audience about the whole journey and the inner conflict. That is how “A Diva Is Born” came into being—a performance no other opera soloist has dared to create. Accompanied by British pianist Hyung-ki Joo, Lithuania will once again have a rare opportunity to see onstage the painful and somewhat ironic story of the birth of a world-renowned opera diva. “A Diva Is Born” is a unique experience and an extraordinary opportunity to get close to Asmik’s sensitive, sharp-edged and often unforgiving soul. Critics initially called the concert impossible, then, once they had caught their breath, showered it with compliments. Here are just a few of their remarks following performances in Salzburg and Vienna: The programme “A Diva Is Born” was performed in Vilnius only once. At the time, the hall could not accommodate everyone who wanted to attend. The concert features Giacomo Puccini’s “O mio babbino caro,” Georges Bizet’s “Habanera” … Classics you will always find in a collection of the “Twenty Most Beautiful Arias in the World.” And in Asmik Grigorian’s performance, you could listen to them forever. But there is also Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” and Sting’s “Moon over Bourbon Street” … Not what you would least expect from a performance by a world-renowned opera soloist. The following artists contribute their talents to the story of “A Diva Is Born”: virtuoso pianist Hyung-ki Joo; director Dalia Ibelhauptaitė, who has brought the show’s details together in a vivid visual whole; sound director Philipp Treiber; lighting designer Andrius Stasiulis; videographer and animation artist Linartas Urniežis; designer Aurimas Kadzevičius; and production company “Promostar”.