Kyiv-born soprano to make U.S. debut at Metropolitan Opera (09/22/96)

Kyiv-born soprano to make U.S. debut at Metropolitan Opera

NEW YORK - Kyiv-born soprano Victoria Loukianetz makes her American debut at the Metropolitan Opera on October 2, as Violetta in "La Traviata."

Ms. Loukianetz is a graduate of the Kyiv State Conservatory and began her professional career as principal soloist of the Kyiv National Opera as Marfa in Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Tsar's Bride." In 1993 she made her debut at the Bolshoi Opera as Marfa, and the following season became a member of the Vienna State Opera where she has sung a number of roles including Violetta, Oscar in "Un Ballo in Maschera," Adina in "L'Elisir d'Amore" and the Queen of the Night in "Die Zauberflöte."

Last season Ms. Loukianetz made debuts at the Salzburg Festival in the role of Violetta, the Deutsche Oper Berlin as Oscar and at La Scala as the Queen of the Night, and sang Gilda in "Rigoletto" and Adina with the Hamburg State Opera.

During the current season she sings Medora in "Il Corsaro" for her debut at Covent Garden, Gilda in Geneva, Donna Anna in "Don Giovanni" at the Salzburg Festival, and Elvira in "I Puritani" at the Vienna State Opera.

Upcoming engagements include her debut at the Bastille Opera as Violetta, Gilda at Covent Garden, Bertha in a new production of "Le Prophète" with the Vienna State Opera, and new productions of "Le Rossignol" and "L'Enfant et les Sèrtilèges" in Frankfurt.

Ms. Loukianetz's other appearances at the Met in the lead role in "La Traviata" are on: Saturday, October 5; Wednesday, October 9; Saturday, October 12; Wednesday, October 23; and Saturday, October 26.