Birth

:

October 24, 1921 in Travnik, Croatia

Death

:

November 22, 2011 in Augsburg, Germany

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Sena Jurinac was a renowned classical music artist who was born on October 24, 1921, in Travnik, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She was the daughter of a Croatian father and a Serbian mother. Her family moved to Zagreb when she was a child, and it was there that she began her musical education. Jurinac's talent was evident from a young age, and she was accepted into the Zagreb Conservatory at the age of 14. She studied voice with Milka Ternina, a famous Croatian soprano, and made her debut at the Zagreb Opera in 1942 as Mimi in Puccini's La Bohème. Jurinac's career took off quickly, and she soon became one of the most sought-after sopranos in Europe. In 1947, she made her debut at the Salzburg Festival as Cherubino in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, a role that would become one of her signature roles. She also made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London in 1947 as Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni. Jurinac's performances were praised for their emotional depth and technical precision. She was known for her ability to convey the nuances of a character's emotions through her singing, and her voice was admired for its clarity and purity. She was also a skilled actress, and her performances were often described as "dramatic" and "intense." Jurinac's repertoire was wide-ranging, and she was equally at home in operas by Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner. She was particularly known for her interpretations of Mozart's heroines, including Donna Elvira, Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro, and Pamina in The Magic Flute. She also excelled in the roles of Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata and Elsa in Wagner's Lohengrin. Jurinac's career was marked by numerous highlights and accolades. In 1953, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as Donna Elvira, and she went on to perform there regularly for the next decade. She also performed at the Vienna State Opera, the Paris Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera, among others. Jurinac was the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 1961, she was awarded the title of Kammersängerin by the Austrian government, and in 1977, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1980. Jurinac retired from the stage in 1982, but she continued to teach and mentor young singers. She taught at the Salzburg Mozarteum and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, among other institutions. She also served as a juror for numerous international singing competitions. Jurinac passed away on November 22, 2011, at the age of 90. She was remembered as one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, and her legacy continues to inspire and influence young singers today.

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