Renata Pokupic
Encyclopedia
Renata Pokupic is a renowned Croatian opera
singer (mezzosoprano) with a strong international career.
. She has graduated and obtained her Master of Music
from the Music Academy of Zagreb
, where she studied with Zdenka Žabčić-Hesky. Soon after graduation she won two first prizes from The 36th Antonin Dvorak International Voice Competition
in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
, as well as two special prizes from the same competition. She reached finals of the 8th International Mozart Competition in Salzburg
and the Competizione dell' Opera
in Dresden
in 2002.
Ms. Pokupic holds numerous awards among which are the Le Cercle International des Amis et Mecenes du Chatelet award (International Circle of Friends and Patrons of Théâtre du Châtelet
, CIAM) and the Orlando for the best performance at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival
2004 with the Purcell Quartet, award Milka Trnina and is the member of the International Women's Forum.
In 2003, she made her successful debut at the Théâtre du Châtelet
in Paris
, where she sang Anna in Berlioz Les Troyens with Sir John Eliot Gardiner
conducting (DVD by BBC Opus Arte). Her London debut followed in 2004 during the London Handel Festival, when she sang Dejanira in Handel's Hercules with Laurence Cummings
and the London Handel Orchestra. Renata sang the solo part in Bach's
Mass in B Minor during the BBC Proms in August 2004 with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and joined him and his ensembles, the Monteverdi Choir
and English Baroque Soloists
, on their European and Far East tour in December 2004 singing Dido in Purcell's
Dido and Aeneas
.
Her recent opera engagements have included the highly acclaimed Royal Opera House
, Covent Garden
debut as Irene Tamerlano
(previously performed at Teatro Real
, Madrid), Cherubino for Washington National Opera
(house debut), Sesto La Clemenza di Tito
for Chicago Opera Theater
, Annio La clemenza di Tito for Opéra de Lyon, the title role in Francesco Cavalli
’s Eliogabalo
at Grange Park Opera
, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro for the Los Angeles Opera and Statira Vivaldi L'Incoronazione di Dario for Garsington Opera
. She also appeared at Wigmore Hall London.
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...
singer (mezzosoprano) with a strong international career.
Life and career
Renata Pokupic was born in CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. She has graduated and obtained her Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
from the Music Academy of Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, where she studied with Zdenka Žabčić-Hesky. Soon after graduation she won two first prizes from The 36th Antonin Dvorak International Voice Competition
International music competitions in the Czech Republic
The idea of organizing the first international music competition in the Czech Republic emerged in 1946. It was proposed by the conductor Rafael Kubelík and members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra as a part of the Prague Spring International Music Festival. The first competition took place in...
in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, as well as two special prizes from the same competition. She reached finals of the 8th International Mozart Competition in Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
and the Competizione dell' Opera
Competizione dell' Opera
The Competizione dell'Opera is an international singing competition based Germany for singers specializing in Italian opera.-History:In 1996, a new international singing competition was born that focused on Italian operas: "I Cestelli Competizione dell' Opera"...
in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
in 2002.
Ms. Pokupic holds numerous awards among which are the Le Cercle International des Amis et Mecenes du Chatelet award (International Circle of Friends and Patrons of Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
, CIAM) and the Orlando for the best performance at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival
Dubrovnik Summer Festival
The Dubrovnik Summer Festival In a unique ambient of open and closed scenes of Renaissance-Baroque city of Dubrovnik a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance is presented.-External links:*...
2004 with the Purcell Quartet, award Milka Trnina and is the member of the International Women's Forum.
In 2003, she made her successful debut at the Théâtre du Châtelet
Théâtre du Châtelet
The Théâtre du Châtelet is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.One of two theatres built on the site of a châtelet, a small castle or fortress, it was designed by Gabriel Davioud at the request of Baron Haussmann between 1860 and...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where she sang Anna in Berlioz Les Troyens with Sir John Eliot Gardiner
John Eliot Gardiner
Sir John Eliot Gardiner CBE FKC is an English conductor. He founded the Monteverdi Choir , the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique...
conducting (DVD by BBC Opus Arte). Her London debut followed in 2004 during the London Handel Festival, when she sang Dejanira in Handel's Hercules with Laurence Cummings
Laurence Cummings
Laurence Cummings , MA , ARCM, FRCO, HonRAM is a British harpsichordist, organist, and conductor. Cummings was educated at Solihull School, Christ Church, Oxford and the Royal College of Music...
and the London Handel Orchestra. Renata sang the solo part in Bach's
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
Mass in B Minor during the BBC Proms in August 2004 with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, and joined him and his ensembles, the Monteverdi Choir
Monteverdi Choir
The Monteverdi Choir was founded in 1964 by Sir John Eliot Gardiner for a performance of the Monteverdi Vespers in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. A specialist Baroque ensemble, the Choir has become famous for its stylistic conviction and extensive repertoire, encompassing music from the early...
and English Baroque Soloists
English Baroque Soloists
The English Baroque Soloists is a chamber orchestra playing on period instruments, formed in 1978 by English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Its repertoire comprises music from the early Baroque period to the Classical period...
, on their European and Far East tour in December 2004 singing Dido in Purcell's
Henry Purcell
Henry Purcell – 21 November 1695), was an English organist and Baroque composer of secular and sacred music. Although Purcell incorporated Italian and French stylistic elements into his compositions, his legacy was a uniquely English form of Baroque music...
Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas
Dido and Aeneas is an opera in a prologue and three acts by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell to a libretto by Nahum Tate. The first known performance was at Josias Priest's girls' school in London no later than the summer of 1688. The story is based on Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid...
.
Her recent opera engagements have included the highly acclaimed Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
, Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
debut as Irene Tamerlano
Tamerlano
Tamerlano is an opera in three acts written for the Royal Academy of Music , with music by George Frideric Handel to an Italian text by Nicola Francesco Haym, adapted from Agostin Piovene's Tamerlano together with another libretto entitled Bajazet after Nicolas Pradon's Tamerlan, ou La Mort de...
(previously performed at Teatro Real
Teatro Real
The Teatro Real or simply El Real , is a major opera house located in Madrid, Spain.-History:...
, Madrid), Cherubino for 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...
(house debut), Sesto La Clemenza di Tito
La clemenza di Tito
La clemenza di Tito , K. 621, is an opera seria in two acts composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Caterino Mazzolà, after Metastasio...
for Chicago Opera Theater
Chicago Opera Theater
The Chicago Opera Theater is an opera company that was founded as the Chicago Opera Studio in 1974 by Alan Stone to give vocal students performance experience, although it has grown into a professional opera company...
, Annio La clemenza di Tito for Opéra de Lyon, the title role in Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli
Francesco Cavalli was an Italian composer of the early Baroque period. His real name was Pietro Francesco Caletti-Bruni, but he is better known by that of Cavalli, the name of his patron Federico Cavalli, a Venetian nobleman.-Life:Cavalli was born at Crema, Lombardy...
’s Eliogabalo
Eliogabalo
Eliogabalo is an opera by the Italian composer Francesco Cavalli based on the life of the Roman emperor Heliogabalus. The author of the original libretto is unknown but it was probably reworked by Aurelio Aureli...
at Grange Park Opera
Grange Park Opera
Grange Park Opera is a professional opera company whose base is The Grange in Hampshire, England. The company was founded in 1998 by Wasfi Kani OBE and Michael Moody...
, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro for the Los Angeles Opera and Statira Vivaldi L'Incoronazione di Dario for Garsington Opera
Garsington Opera
Garsington Opera is an annual open air summer opera festival founded in 1989 by Leonard Ingrams. For twenty one years it was held in the gardens of Leonard Ingrams' home at Garsington Manor in Oxfordshire. Since 2011 the festival is now held in Wormsley Park, the home of the Getty family near High...
. She also appeared at Wigmore Hall London.
Discography
- Les Troyens, Hector BerliozHector BerliozHector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
, conducted by Sir John Eliot GardinerJohn Eliot GardinerSir John Eliot Gardiner CBE FKC is an English conductor. He founded the Monteverdi Choir , the English Baroque Soloists and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique...
, with the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et RomantiqueOrchestre Révolutionnaire et RomantiqueThe Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, founded in 1990 by John Eliot Gardiner, performs Classical and Romantic music, using the principles and original instruments of historically informed performance. The orchestra has recorded symphonies, operas, concertos, and other works of Beethoven,...
, Monteverdi ChoirMonteverdi ChoirThe Monteverdi Choir was founded in 1964 by Sir John Eliot Gardiner for a performance of the Monteverdi Vespers in King's College Chapel, Cambridge. A specialist Baroque ensemble, the Choir has become famous for its stylistic conviction and extensive repertoire, encompassing music from the early...
and Susan GrahamSusan GrahamSusan Graham is an American mezzo-soprano.Raised in Midland, Texas, she is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School of Music. She studied the piano for 13 years...
, among others - Operngala - 16. Festliche Operngala für die AIDS-Stiftung, conducted by Andriy Yurkevych, Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper BerlinDeutsche Oper BerlinThe Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera company located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The resident building is also home to the Berlin State Ballet.-History:...