Mezzo - Soprano
" All eyes were drawn to Justina Gringyte as Carmen, the star turn of the show, whose magnetic stage presence turned sultry, spitting-angry, vulnerable and passionate as she tore into her arias with a vengeance and astonishing vocal verve.
BIOGRAPHY
2015 International Opera Awards Young Singer of the Year, Lithuanian mezzo-soprano Justina Gringytė has received the highest praise for her “knockout technique” (The Times) and “thunderously powerful voice” (The Telegraph). The 2019-20 season sees her return to Lithuanian National Opera and English National Opera (title role Carmen) and Korean National Opera (Hänsel Hänsel und Gretel. She also makes her role debut as Santuzza Cavalleria Rusticana (Scottish Opera).
Highlights of the 2018-19 season include her house debut at Korean National Opera (Hänsel Hänsel und Gretel), her house and role debut as Suzuki Madama Butterfly (Gran Teatre del Liceu) and her role debut as Tigrana Edgar (Scottish Opera). Other engagements include returns to Welsh National Opera (Sara Roberto Devereux) and Lithuanian National Opera (Romeo I Capuleti e i Montecchi) and concert performances with the CBSO (Boulanger’s Psalm 130 at the BBC Proms), Frankfurt Radio Symphony (cond. Oroszo Estrada) and a Wigmore Hall recital with pianist Iain Burnside as part of their Russian Series.
UPCOMING EVENT
NEWS
Justina Gringyte Makes Liceu Debut in Madama Butterfly
15 Jan, 2019
Last weekend, Justina Gringyte made her debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in their production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Justina aslo made her role debut as Suzuki in a sold-out run stretching between 12th and 29th January.
Justina Gringytė Steps In Last Minute as Carmen at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos
5 Oct, 2016
Justina Gringytė is returning to the stage as Carmen sooner than expected as she steps in as a last minute replacement at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Lisbon, which commences on Thursday 6th October 2016.
Justina will reprise the role for another production of Bizet’s Carmen at the Teatro Palermo, which begins on 26thNovember 2016. Ms. Gringytė has also recently debuted an electronic adaptation of Carmen in Vilnius, Lithuania, entitled e-Carmen, to which she and the production received critical acclaim.
Justina Gringyte makes debut in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino at Welsh National Opera
7 Feb, 2018
Justina Gringyte kicks up a storm in all Preziosilla’s guises (Telegraph) in the most dramatically problematic of the mature operas conducted by Carlo Rizzi and directed by David Pountney.
“You can’t fault the soloists for dramatic intensity or vocal heft. The commitment is immense,” according to The TImes.
Mark Pullinger (Bachtrack) says, “Sometimes masked, sometimes in diamantine top hat and tails like a cabaret artiste, Justina Gringyte’s Preziosilla dominates the action. She made the greatest impact on opening night. Her granite-toned mezzo was in thrilling condition, especially when imperiously sitting astride a tank’s gun to deliver the rousing Rataplan chorus, a huge blast at the end scattering her victims. Preziosilla spins Pountney’s Force of Destiny.”
Justina Debuts Innovative “e-Carmen” Production at Vilnius City Opera
28 Sep, 2016
On 17th September 2016, Vilnius City Opera staged a brand new, innovative electronic production entitled “e-Carmen”, of which Justina was cast in the title role. This ambitious new production, which was composed by Marijus Adomaitis and inspired by Bizet’s Carmen, has been praised by local press, with Asta Andrikonyte (Lietuvos rytas Culture Magazine) writing:
“Many people have been waiting for the new Vilnius City Opera project “e-Carmen” with anxiety, not expecting that you can squeeze the emotions of Carmen into an electronic cage. However, they achieved the impossible – the electronic version of Carmen at Compensa Hall, conducted by Richard Šumila, was as charming as the original with ever-growing curiosity throughout.
THE JUSTINA GRINGYTE CHARITY FOUNDATION
On 1st June 2016, Justina launched a charity foundation in aid of young musicians.
“To be a talented musician is a gift, but to develop that talent requires dedication, discipline and funds. This is why I was compelled to create this foundation; so that musically gifted children can be assisted financially to further their education and fulfil their potential.” – Justina Gringytė
