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Maija Kovaļevska
Latvian opera star, soprano Maija Kovaļevska was born in Riga September 21, 1979. She is a graduate of the Latvian Academy of Music, and since 2003, hones her skills in master classes in Italy under the tutelage of Mirella Freni.
In 2003, Kovaļevska made her Latvian National Opera debut as Elvira in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”, a year later earning her the state’s highest honor in music – the Grand Music Award.
Also in 2004, she took first prize at the 10th Riccardo Zandonai International Opera Singers’ Competition in Italy and was second at the 3rd Jāzeps Vītols’ Vocalist Competition in Riga. Kovaļevska added to her medals at the Placido Domingo world opera soloists’ competition "Operalia" in Valencia, taking top honors.
Under Domingo’s musical direction, Kovaļevska made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2006 in “La Boheme” as Mimi. Thus, a shining career was launched at the Met with subsequent leading roles in “Orpheus and Eurydyce” and “Carmen” (Micaela) in 2007 and 2008.
Kovaļevska has performed on many of the world’s great opera stages, and continues to this day, earning plaudits from critics and audiences alike.
She was also part of the star-studded celebration concert for the Met’s 125th anniversary and Domingo’s 40 years with the company. In 2009/10, the Latvian diva will guest at Bayerische Staatsoper and Convent Garden, and will sing Micaela in “Carmen” and Liu in “Turandot” at the Met (2010).
Domingo, interviewed by "Diena" in October 2009, commented that he is “especially pleased with Maija’s accomplishments because she is the winner of my young singers contest "Operalia". She is an ideal artist with a wonderfully beautiful voice. Maija is very musical, she is an actress.”
Interviewed by "Diena" in October 2008, the diva herself stated: “My ideal is a gradual, purposeful singing career, that would last for years, as voice is a lifetime job. Opera to me is a shrine, a spiritual process. As a child, watching my fist opera, I felt like I was in a church. That was "Carmen"…"
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