Aile Asszonyi
Encyclopedia
Aile Asszonyi is an Estonia
n classical soprano
who has an active career as an opera
and concert singer. She was a finalist of the 2004 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and has been honored by the Estonian Music Council with the "Interpretation Prize" in 2007; an annual award given in recognition of an artist who has made a significant contribution to Estonian music.
Asszonyi was born in Väike-Maarja
, Lääne-Viru County. She studied singing at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Matti Pelo and Helin Kapten, earning her M.A.
in 2002. She was a member of the young artist program at De Nederlandse Opera
until 2004 where she was a pupil of Henny Jana Diemer. She also studied in the prestigious private academy of Carlo Bergonzi
in Italy.
Asszonyi started her career in the famous Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
(1995–1998). She made her operatic debut in 2000 as Despina in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
's Così fan tutte
at Theatre Vanemuine. She has since been highly active as an opera singer in her native country, singing such roles as Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore
, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni
, Leonora in Beethoven's Fidelio
, Miss Jessel in Britten's The Turn of the Screw
, Violetta in La traviata
, and the title roles in Haydn's Armida
, Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco
, and Puccini's Suor Angelica
among others. She also notably sang the title role in the world premiere of Isidora Žebeljan
's Zora D.
Asszonyi has performed at the Nargen Opera, Vienna Chamber Opera, Moscow New Opera, Amsterdam Concertgebow and concert halls in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia, Latvia, Sweden, and Finland. She has participated in numerous festivals: Newport Music Festival
(USA, 2004), Belgrade Bemus Festival (Serbia, 2004), Music Biennale Zagreb
(Croatia, 2007). She is currently engaged at the Estonian National Opera
where she is scheduled to sing the roles of Amelia in Giuseppe Verdi
's Un ballo in maschera
, Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte
, and Woman in Erkki-Sven Tüür
's Wallenberg during the 2009–2010 season.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n classical soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
who has an active career as an opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and concert singer. She was a finalist of the 2004 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and has been honored by the Estonian Music Council with the "Interpretation Prize" in 2007; an annual award given in recognition of an artist who has made a significant contribution to Estonian music.
Asszonyi was born in Väike-Maarja
Väike-Maarja
Väike-Maarja is a small borough in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Väike-Maarja Parish.-Notable people:*Aile Asszonyi , opera singer*Eda-Ines Etti , singer*Vello Jürna , opera singer...
, Lääne-Viru County. She studied singing at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Matti Pelo and Helin Kapten, earning her M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 2002. She was a member of the young artist program at De Nederlandse Opera
De Nederlandse Opera
De Nederlandse Opera , in Amsterdam, is a Dutch opera company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its present home base is the Het Muziektheater, a modern building designed by Cees Dam which opened in 1986....
until 2004 where she was a pupil of Henny Jana Diemer. She also studied in the prestigious private academy of Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi is an Italian operatic tenor. Although he performed and recorded some bel canto and verismo roles, he is above all associated with the operas of Giuseppe Verdi, including a large number of the composer's lesser-known works that he helped revive...
in Italy.
Asszonyi started her career in the famous Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is a professional choir based in Estonia. It was founded in 1981 by Tõnu Kaljuste, who was its conductor for twenty years. In 2001, Paul Hillier followed Kaljuste's tenure, becoming the EPCC's principal conductor and artistic director until September 2008,...
(1995–1998). She made her operatic debut in 2000 as Despina in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
's Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
at Theatre Vanemuine. She has since been highly active as an opera singer in her native country, singing such roles as Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore
L'elisir d'amore
L'elisir d'amore is an opera by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. It is a melodramma giocoso in two acts...
, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
, Leonora in Beethoven's Fidelio
Fidelio
Fidelio is a German opera in two acts by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is Beethoven's only opera. The German libretto is by Joseph Sonnleithner from the French of Jean-Nicolas Bouilly which had been used for the 1798 opera Léonore, ou L’amour conjugal by Pierre Gaveaux, and for the 1804 opera Leonora...
, Miss Jessel in Britten's The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw is a novella written by Henry James. Originally published in 1898, it is ostensibly a ghost story.Due to its ambiguous content, it became a favourite text of academics who subscribe to New Criticism. The novella has had differing interpretations, often mutually exclusive...
, Violetta in La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
, and the title roles in Haydn's Armida
Armida (Haydn)
Armida, Hob. 28/12, is an opera in three acts by Joseph Haydn, set to a libretto based upon Torquato Tasso's poem Gerusalemme liberata . The first performance was 26 February 1784 and it went on to receive 54 performances from 1784 to 1788 at the Esterháza Court Theatre...
, Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco
Giovanna d'Arco
Giovanna d'Arco is an operatic dramma lirico with a prologue and three acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera....
, and Puccini's Suor Angelica
Suor Angelica
Suor Angelica is an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an original Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. It is the second opera of the trio of operas known as Il trittico...
among others. She also notably sang the title role in the world premiere of Isidora Žebeljan
Isidora Žebeljan
Isidora Žebeljan is a Serbian composer, pianist and conductor.-Biography:Žebeljan was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and drew international attention with her opera Zora D. which was commissioned by the Genesis Foundation from London. It was premièred in Amsterdam in 2003, directed by David Pountney...
's Zora D.
Asszonyi has performed at the Nargen Opera, Vienna Chamber Opera, Moscow New Opera, Amsterdam Concertgebow and concert halls in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia, Latvia, Sweden, and Finland. She has participated in numerous festivals: Newport Music Festival
Newport Music Festival
Newport Music Festival is a classical music festival that takes place in Newport, Rhode Island.It was founded in 1969 as a summer season of the Metropolitan Opera. The outdoor venue was not conducive to classical music performance, and instead the grand rooms of the stately Newport mansions were...
(USA, 2004), Belgrade Bemus Festival (Serbia, 2004), Music Biennale Zagreb
Music Biennale Zagreb
Music Biennale Zagreb is an international festival of contemporary music in Zagreb, Croatia, organized by the Croatian Composers' Society. The Biennale, founded by Milko Kelemen and held every spring of the odd years since 1961, has become one of the most important festivals of contemporary music...
(Croatia, 2007). She is currently engaged at the Estonian National Opera
Estonian National Opera
Estonian National Opera is the national opera company of Estonia. The company is based at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn.-History:The song and drama society "Estonia" was founded in 1870...
where she is scheduled to sing the roles of Amelia in Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Verdi
Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
's Un ballo in maschera
Un ballo in maschera
Un ballo in maschera , is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma. The libretto is loosely based on an 1833 play, Gustave III, by French playwright Eugène Scribe who wrote about the historical assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden...
, Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
, and Woman in Erkki-Sven Tüür
Erkki-Sven Tüür
Erkki-Sven Tüür is an Estonian composer.Tüür was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition with Jaan Rääts at the Tallinn Academy of Music and privately with Lepo Sumera from 1980 to 1984...
's Wallenberg during the 2009–2010 season.