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World-class debut: Asmik Grigorian and her moving Norma premiere!
Asmik Grigorian and Aigul Akhmetshina made their debut in Bellini's "Norma" at the Theater an der Wien on February 16, 2025.
World-class debut: Asmik Grigorian and her moving Norma premiere!
On February 16, 2025, the world-famous singers Asmik Grigorian and Aigul Akhmetshina will be at the Theater an der Wien to make their debut in Bellini's opera “Norma”. The premiere is awaited with great anticipation, especially since Asmik Grigorian sings this role for her late mother, the soprano Irena Milkevičiūtė. This connection to her mother, who was an incredibly talented Norma, makes the upcoming event very special for Grigorian. According to an interview with the “Krone”, Grigorian emphasizes how significant the emotional pressure is on her as two interpreters present the same role in the same city.
Challenges and emotions on stage
As Aigul Akhmetshina notes in the role of Adalgisa, “Norma” is a very different experience than anything she has sung before. The challenge comes not only from the singing, but above all from the emotional depth of the characters. Grigorian herself is often reminded of her childhood and memories of her mother, especially when she rehearses the dramatic scenes with a knife. In a conversation with the “Kurier”, she suggests how her personal history and insecurities continue to motivate her to take on challenges, noting that she often feels like she has to fight for her achievements.
Akhmetshina describes Adalgisa as a naive, innocent girl who gets caught up in a conflict, while Grigorian explores the facets of love and danger in the role of Norma. Both singers, who master demanding roles, bring a mixture of desperation and emotion to their performances, making the premiere this Saturday an unforgettable experience. This production, in which the story was set in the 1950s or 1960s, could transport viewers into an interwoven world of bucket romance and dramatic conflict that underlines the deep human emotions of the opera.
The nervousness that both Grigorian and Akhmetshina feel is obvious, but they also express deep gratitude for being able to do this challenging work. In a moment of reflection, Grigorian admits that it is sometimes overwhelming to carry the expectations and pressure of such a distinguished family tradition into the opera, while Akhmetshina is convinced that every performance is always a step forward.