38 Facts About Aleksandra Kurzak

Aleksandra Kurzak is a Polish operatic soprano who has an international career primarily in Europe and the United States.

Aleksandra Kurzak had intended to be a ballet dancer, then a violinist; and began her musical studies playing the violin at the age of 7.

Aleksandra Kurzak's singing talent was noticed by conductor Stefan Rachon when she imitated her mother at a festival in Kudowa-Zdroj.

Aleksandra Kurzak turned to singing after graduation and started voice lesson with her mother, whom she still considers her primary teacher.

Aleksandra Kurzak was enrolled in the academy after auditioning with Konstanze's aria "Ach ich liebte" from Mozart's Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail.

From 1996 to 2000, Aleksandra Kurzak studied at the Karol Lipinski Academy of Music in Eugeniusz Sasiadek's class; and meanwhile participated in several music festivals and was laureate in multiple competitions.

Aleksandra Kurzak received scholarships from the Polish Ministry of Culture and Aleksander Gudzowaty's Crescendum Est - Polonia Foundation.

Aleksandra Kurzak was discovered by Peter Katona, the casting director of the Royal Opera, despite not entering the final at the 2000 edition of Operalia.

Aleksandra Kurzak received a doctorate degree in music in 2009 and habilitated doctor's diploma in June 2016.

Aleksandra Kurzak made her opera debut on 26 May 1999 in The Marriage of Figaro.

Aleksandra Kurzak returned in 2009 for a new staging of The Marriage of Figaro.

Aleksandra Kurzak returned to the role in January 2007 when the production was again revived.

Aleksandra Kurzak gained recognition after successful performances with Gilda and the Queen of the Night.

Aleksandra Kurzak sang Fraarte in Handel's Radamisto in May 2007 before embarking her freelance career.

Aleksandra Kurzak received international attention when she debuted at the New York Metropolitan Opera with Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann in December 2004, and at the Royal Opera, London with Aspasia in Mitridate, re di Ponto in July 2005.

Aleksandra Kurzak made other guest appearances at the Bavarian State Opera, in Parma, Toulouse, Salzburg, and Palermo.

Aleksandra Kurzak would sing Donna Anna in two other productions, in Venice and Salzburg.

Aleksandra Kurzak sang her first Violetta in La traviata in February 2010 for Mariusz Trelinski's new production at the Polish National Opera.

Aleksandra Kurzak returned to Warsaw for the same role, followed by Gilda in Rigoletto and Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor.

Aleksandra Kurzak was featured in four consecutive seasons in Vienna, where she sang Marie in La fille du regiment and Violetta.

Aleksandra Kurzak went on maternity leave in September 2013, cancelling appearances including Rigoletto at the Met.

Aleksandra Kurzak returned to stage in a performance of L'elisir d'amore at the Bavarian State Opera in May 2014.

Aleksandra Kurzak went on to portray the role in various productions of the opera, including Pelly's production at her Paris Opera debut in 2015 and Sher's production at the Metropolitan Opera in 2016.

Aleksandra Kurzak continued to give performances of Gilda in London and Vienna, Marie in Madrid, and Norina in Zurich.

Aleksandra Kurzak returned to La Scala for Countess Adele in Le comte Ory, and the Metropolitan Opera again for Hansel and Gretel.

Aleksandra Kurzak won the Best Female Singer in the Bachtrack Opera Awards for the latter performance.

Aleksandra Kurzak then performed the title role in Maria Stuarda at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees.

Aleksandra Kurzak made several role debuts in 2016: Rachel in La Juive, Nedda in Pagliacci, Mimi in La boheme.

Aleksandra Kurzak was to embody all heroines in The Tales of Hoffmann in Munich, but withdrew due to disputes with the conductor causing her to "lose her passion" for the performance.

Aleksandra Kurzak performed Desdemona at the Hamburg State Opera and, later in the year, Violetta at the Paris Opera, where she would sing Desdemona in the same season, and the title role in a concert performance of Luisa Miller at the Opera de Monte-Carlo.

Aleksandra Kurzak starred in Carmen at the Met, and in summer, Franco Zeffirelli's new La traviata production at the Verona Arena, which was a tribute to the late producer.

Aleksandra Kurzak made two role debuts: Cio-Cio San in an open-air concert performance of Madama Butterfly at the Parade Square in Warsaw, Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlo at the Paris Opera.

In 2020, Aleksandra Kurzak gave performances as Violetta at the Metropolitan Opera and at the Royal Opera House.

Aleksandra Kurzak was featured in the 2011 Napa Valley Festival del Sole and was a guest performer at the 2012 Semperopernball.

Aleksandra Kurzak was frequently featured in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana as the soprano soloist.

Aleksandra Kurzak performed in Nowowiejski's oratorio Quo Vadis on 20 November 2016, and Verdi's Requiem conducted by Jacek Kaspszyk on 27 September 2019, both at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw.

Aleksandra Kurzak met French tenor Roberto Alagna during performances of L'elisir d'amore at the Royal Opera House in 2012.

Aleksandra Kurzak signed an exclusive contract with Decca Classics in January 2011, being the first-ever Polish singer to do so.