In 1999, Asmik Grigorian graduated from
National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art in Vilnius. She studied music at the
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and graduated from it with a master's degree in 2006. Grigorian made her operatic debut in
Christiansand (Norway) in 2004 as Donna Anna directed by
Jonathan Miller, in 2005 she made her Lithuanian debut as Violetta also directed by Jonathan Miller, and in 2006 she became one of the founding members of
Vilnius City Opera, singing in Puccini's
La bohème (Mimi and Musetta), Leoncavallo's
Pagliacci (Nedda), Verdi's
Il trovatore, Puccini's
Manon Lescaut, Tchaikovsky's
Pique Dame and
Eugene Onegin,
Sweeney Todd, and Massenet's
Werther. Grigorian later performed at the
Latvian National Opera (in 2005 under the direction of Andres Jaegers) and the
Mariinsky Theater, performing in Puccini's
Il Trittico, Verdi's
Otello, Puccini's
Madama Butterfly, Prokofiev's
The Gambler, and Dvorak's
Rusalka. She is the recipient of the highest Lithuanian theatre award, the
Golden Stage Cross lt], in 2005 and 2010. Since 2011, Grigorian has performed in various opera houses on the international stage. She was noted in operas such as Tchaikovsky's Nastasya in
The Enchantress at the
Theater an der Wien in September 2014 and as Tatiana in
Eugene Onegin at the
Komische Oper Berlin in 2016. In May 2016, Grigorian was honoured at the
International Opera Awards in London as the Best Newcomer ("Young Female Singer"). In December 2016 she performed at the
Royal Swedish Opera in the title role of Giordano's
Fedora. In her debut at the
Salzburg Festival in August 2017, she sang the role of Marie in Alban Berg's
Wozzeck to critical acclaim.
Rupert Christiansen of
The Telegraph praised Grigorian as a "superb musician, with deep understanding of Bergian vocal style". Grigorian made her
Edinburgh International Festival debut in August 2019 when
Komische Oper Berlin brought their production of
Eugene Onegin to Edinburgh. During the 2019/20 season, Asmik performed as Manon Lescaut at
Oper Frankfurt, she also returned to her hometown of
Vilnius where she performed as Polina in
The Gambler. This role was reprised towards the end of her season at the
Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Performances of Bellini's
Norma Elektra by Richard Strauss and Janacek's
Jenůfa were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Asmik began her 2020/21 season as
Madama Butterfly at the
Vienna State Opera and then at the Mariinsky Theatre, then later in the season at the
Deutsche Oper Berlin. She appeared as Lisa in
Pique Dame at the Mariinsky Theatre, Dvorak's
Rusalka at the
Teatro Real in Madrid conducted by
Ivor Bolton and the title role in
Salome by Strauss at the
Bolshoi Theatre conducted by
Tugan Sokhiev. She performed as Senta in Wagner's
Der fliegende Holländer at the
Bayreuth Festival and in
Elektra at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by
Franz Welser-Möst. Grigorian's 2021/22 season began with a house and role debut at the
Royal Opera House in a new production of
Jenůfa conducted by Henrik Nánási. In concert, she performed as part of the Gala at the Berlin State Opera, and as Marie in
Drei Bruchstücke aus Wozzeck at the
Teatro del Maggio and the
Elbphilharmonie. At the
Vienna State Opera, Asmik performs as Manon Lescaut. She went on a European tour with pianist
Lukas Geniusas in support of their recently released album,
Dissonance. Asmik returned to the Salzburg Festival to perform the three leading roles in a new production of Puccini's
Il Trittico, directed by
Christof Loy. Asmik commenced the 2022/23 season with a continuation of her album recital tour with pianist
Lukas Geniusas. She returned to two of her signature title-roles this season, firstly, in
Rusalka at the Dvořák Prague festival and then at the
Royal Opera House and secondly, in
Jenůfa at the
Wiener Staatsoper. Grigorian later appeared in the title-role of
The Enchantress and as Manon Lescaut at
Oper Frankfurt. She also made her Japanese debut as the title-role in
Salome with the
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. To end her season, Grigorian returned to the
Salzburger Festspiele where she made her role debut as Lady Macbeth in
Verdi's Macbeth. Her 2023/24 season began with
Madama Butterfly in which she made her house debut at
Arena di Verona.. In December 2023, she made her debut in
Turandot at the
Wiener Staatsoper next to
Jonas Kaufmann in a new staging by
Claus Guth. On May 11, 2024, she sang Cio-Cio San in
Madama Butterfly on her first
Metropolitan Opera Live in HD transmission. Grigorian is the official ambassador for the Rimantas Kaukenas Charity. == Family ==