Milena Kitic
Encyclopedia
Milena Kitic (born 1968 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia
(now SR Serbia
) is an opera
tic mezzo-soprano
. She had finished her high school diploma at the Mokranjac
Music School in Belgrade. Her first professor was Andjelka Obradovic.
Kitic began her professional career with the Belgrade Opera at the National Theatre in Belgrade
, debuting in 1989 as Olga in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin
; she performed at this house for 8 years. From 1997 until 1999, Kitic performed at the Aalto Theatre
in Essen, Germany, and later toured throughout Europe. In 1998, she made her American debut and performed at Carnegie Hall
that year. In 2002, she debuted with the Washington National Opera
and the Los Angeles Opera
. The following year, she performed with Opera Pacific
, including a benefit performance with tenor Plácido Domingo
. In October 2005, she debuted with the Metropolitan Opera
in New York, starring in Bizet's Carmen
and as Amneris in Verdi's Aida
, roles which she reprised for Opera Pacific.
Kitic teaches master classes at Chapman University
, the University of Southern California
's Thornton School of Music
and the University of California, Irvine
. Kitic is married to entrepreneur and former Yugoslav prime minister Milan Panić
. The couple has homes in Newport Beach
and Pasadena, California
.
In March, 2007 Kitic announced her retirement from opera to raise her five-year-old son.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
(now SR Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia
Socialist Republic of Serbia was a socialist state that was a constituent country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is a predecessor of modern day Serbia, which served as the biggest republic in the Yugoslav federation and held the largest population of all the Yugoslav...
) is 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...
tic mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
. She had finished her high school diploma at the Mokranjac
Stevan Stojanovic Mokranjac
Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac was a Serbian composer and music educator. His work was essential in bringing the spirit of Valach Serbian unwritten folk poems into organized art.-Biography:He was born in Negotin...
Music School in Belgrade. Her first professor was Andjelka Obradovic.
Kitic began her professional career with the Belgrade Opera at the National Theatre in Belgrade
National Theatre in Belgrade
The National Theatre was founded in the latter half of the 19th century. It is located on Republic Square, in Belgrade, Serbia.The National Theatre was declared a Monument of Culture of Great Importance in 1983, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia....
, debuting in 1989 as Olga in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin (opera)
Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, is an opera in 3 acts , by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto was written by Konstantin Shilovsky and the composer and his brother Modest, and is based on the novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin....
; she performed at this house for 8 years. From 1997 until 1999, Kitic performed at the Aalto Theatre
Aalto Theatre
The Aalto Theatre is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Essen, Germany. It was opened on 25 September 1988 with Richard Wagner's opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg...
in Essen, Germany, and later toured throughout Europe. In 1998, she made her American debut and performed at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
that year. In 2002, she debuted with the Washington National Opera
Washington National Opera
The Washington National Opera is an opera company in Washington, D.C., USA. Formerly the Opera Society of Washington and the Washington Opera, the company received Congressional designation as the National Opera Company in 2000. Performances are now given in the Opera House of the John F...
and the Los Angeles Opera
Los Angeles Opera
The Los Angeles Opera is an opera company in Los Angeles, California. It is the fourth largest opera company in the United States. The company's home base is the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, part of the Los Angeles Music Center.-Current leadership:...
. The following year, she performed with Opera Pacific
Opera Pacific
Opera Pacific was an opera company located in the Orange County, California, United States city of Santa Ana. It operated for 22 seasons before closing in 2008 after several seasons of deepening financial difficulties.-History:...
, including a benefit performance with tenor Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
. In October 2005, she debuted with the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York, starring in Bizet's Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
and as Amneris in Verdi's Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
, roles which she reprised for Opera Pacific.
Kitic teaches master classes at Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's Thornton School of Music
USC Thornton School of Music
The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, founded in 1884 and dedicated in 1999, is one of the premier music schools in the United States...
and the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
. Kitic is married to entrepreneur and former Yugoslav prime minister Milan Panić
Milan Panic
Milan Panić or Milan Panic is a Serbian American multimillionaire, a Newport Beach and Pasadena, California-based business tycoon. He served as Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1992-1993...
. The couple has homes in Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
and Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
.
In March, 2007 Kitic announced her retirement from opera to raise her five-year-old son.
Sources
- Chapman UniversityChapman UniversityChapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
, Biography: Milena Kitic, Artist-in-Residence, Voice - Farber, Jim, "Freeway Diva", Daily BreezeDaily BreezeThe Daily Breeze is a 70,000-circulation daily newspaper published in Torrance, California. It serves the South Bay cities of Los Angeles County. Its slogan is "LAX to LA Harbor".- Early history :...
18 February 2005 (accessed via subscription 29 January 2010) - Metropolitan OperaMetropolitan OperaThe Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/gisrch2k.r?Term=Kitic,%20Milena%20%5BMezzo%20Soprano%5D&limit=5000&vsrchtype=no&xBranch=ALL&xmtype=&Start=&End=&theterm=Ki%74ic,%20Mil%65na%20%5BM%65zzo%20Sop%72ano%5D&srt=&x=0&xHome=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/bibpro.htm&xHomePath=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/Performance record: Kitic, Milena (Mezzo Soprano)] on the MetOpera Database - Reed, Vita, The OC 50...profiles of the county's most influential business people: Milan Panic", Orange County Business Journal, 6 May 2002 (accessed via subscription 29 January 2010)
- Rosenberg, Marion Lignana, "Catfights, blood, glory: Ah, opera!", NewsdayNewsdayNewsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
, 24 April 2004 - Smith, Thom, Soprano Sings for (Others') Suppers", The Palm Beach PostThe Palm Beach PostThe Palm Beach Post is a major daily newspaper in Florida, serving Palm Beach County in South Florida, and the Treasure Coast area. It is the 72nd largest daily newspaper in the United States and the sixth largest in Florida.-History:...
, 7 April 2000, p. 1E - Stein, Jeannine, "The opera's on a grand scale, but not the diva" Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, 12 September 2005