Sigutė Stonytė is a Lithuanian soprano and professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Early life and education Stonytė graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1982, studying under Z. Paulauskas. In 1982-1984 she also studied with vocal teacher Joana Kepenienė.
Singing career In 1984, Stonytė won the International Competition for Singers in Riga and a year later made her debut at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (LNOBT) as Tatyana in Pyotr Tchaikovsky‘s opera Eugene Onegin.
In 1991, Stonytė won the second prize at the International Marian Anderson Vocal Arts Competition in Maryland, USA (first prize was not awarded).
Stonytė's latest role was Desdemona in Verdi's Otello (directed by Eimuntas Nekrošius).
Stonytė has sung around 30 soprano parts ranging from Bach to Britten and has also performed chamber pieces (including Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, Mahler’s Rueckert-Lieder, Messiaen’s Poemes pour Mi, as well as works by Rachmaninoff, Strauss and Karnavičius).
Performances
+FestivalsYearRoleFestivalVenueLocationRef.AbigaileSavonlinna Opera Festival AbigaileVerdianaeumLa RoncoleBratislava CantansAgatheHeilbronn FestivalGermanyGlamorgan ValleyNorrtelje Chamber Music festivalAidaHolland Opera FestivalAbigaileOpera Festival in ArlesFrance +OperasYearWorkComposerRoleCompanyVenueLocationRef.NabuccoVerdiAbigaileEstonia Theatre TallinnAidaVerdiAidaMacbeth VerdiLady MacbethLa traviataVerdiViolettaLithuanian Opera Company of ChicagoAidaAidaTaiwanNabuccoVerdiAbigaileEnglandZerlinaSalomeStraussSalomeTel AvivLatvian National OperaFrance (tour)Eugene Onegin TchaikovskyTatyanaIl trovatoreVerdiLeonoraGražinaKarnavičiusRamunėFaustGounodMargueriteLe nozze di FigaroMozartCherubinoLa cambiale di matrimonioRossiniFannyTannhäuser WagnerElisabethFidelioBeethovenMarcellinaDer FreischützWeberAgatheToscaPucciniToscaThe Tales of HoffmannOffenbachAntoniaSuor AngelicaPucciniSister AngelicaThe Queen of Spades TchaikovskyLizaThe Flying DutchmanWagnerSentaUn ballo in mascheraVerdiAmeliaTurandotPucciniLiuLa forza del destinoVerdiLeonoraLe nozze di FigaroMozartCountess AlmavivaEugene OneginTchaikovskyLarinaOtelloVerdiDesdemonaErnaniVerdiElvira +Other performancesYearPerformanceWithVenueLocationRef.National Symphony Orchestra of the USAJ. F. Kennedy CenterWashington D.C.Moscow PhilharmonicOdense SymphonyLithuanian State OrchestraNational Symphony OrchestraEstonian Symphony OrchestraLatvian Symphony OrchestraLithuanian Chamber Orchestra
Teaching In 1992, Stonytė started teaching at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre where she continues to be a Professor, as well as teaching classes abroad. She has also been a judge in local and international singing competitions.
Awards +YearPrizeFor roleAwarding bodyLocationRef.1984WinnerInternational Competition for SingersRiga1991Second Prize (first prize not awarded)International Marian Anderson Vocal Arts CompetitionMaryland1996Kristoforas AwardLady Macbeth in Verdi's MacbethLithuanian Theatre Union1999Kipras Prize – Singer of the YearSociety of Lithuanian Opera Friends2000The Knight's CrossOrder of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas2003Special PrizeAmelia in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera and Zerlina in Mozart's Don GiovanniLithuanian Ministry of Culture20044th class Order of the Cross of Terra MarianaLithuanian National Prize2005Operos Švyturiai (Opera Beacon Award) – Best Female Soloist of the YearLeonora in La forza del destino and Senta in The Flying DutchmanLithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre2011Golden Cross of the StageCountess Rosina Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of FigaroLithuanian Theatre UnionOpera Beacon Award – Best Female Soloist of the YearDesdemona in Otello directed by Eimuntas NekrošiusLithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre2016Golden Cross of the Stage Award – Lifetime Achievements to Lithuanian theatreLithuanian Theatre Union
Personal life Stonytė is married to a Lithuanian pianist Jurgis Karnavičius.
References