Kristine Opolais Gala Concert with Plácido Domingo & Michael Fabiano

On July 29, the Dzintari Concert Hall will host one of the most significant musical events of recent years. Kristine Opolais, Latvia’s internationally acclaimed soprano and one of the leading operatic artists of our time, will present a major gala concert with symphony orchestra and choir. The evening will be made even more extraordinary by the participation of the legendary Plácido Domingo, who will perform in Latvia for the very first time in his career. Joining them will be one of today’s most sought-after tenors, Michael Fabiano.

Kristine Opolais has long established herself among the most distinguished artists of the international opera scene. Having begun her career at the Latvian National Opera, she went on to appear on the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera, the Berlin State Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, the Bavarian State Opera, and many others. Her name has become synonymous with artistic integrity, emotional depth, and exceptional dramatic intensity.

Puccini’s heroines occupy a special place in her repertoire. It was through her portrayals of Cio-Cio-San, Manon Lescaut, and Tosca that Opolais earned international acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The New York Times described her as “an irresistible actress—fragile and truthful,” while leading music publications have repeatedly praised her unique ability to unite vocal mastery with profound psychological insight.

Throughout her career, Opolais has collaborated with many of the greatest conductors of our time, including Daniel Barenboim, Antonio Pappano, Simon Rattle, Andris Nelsons, Fabio Luisi, Kirill Petrenko, and others. At the Metropolitan Opera, she made history as the only singer ever to perform two different leading roles within a period of twenty-four hours.

For this special gala evening, Kristine Opolais will present not only the operatic arias that have defined her career but also large-scale works for voice, choir, and orchestra, allowing her dramatic artistry and unique vocal personality to be experienced at their fullest.

The concert gains additional historical significance through the participation of Plácido Domingo. A true legend of the musical world, a nine-time Grammy Award winner, and one of the defining artists of twentieth- and twenty-first-century opera, Domingo will appear in Latvia for the first time ever.

For more than six decades, Domingo has remained one of the central figures of international musical culture. His repertoire encompasses more than 150 operatic roles, while his career has extended far beyond singing to include conducting, leading major opera companies, and nurturing future generations of artists through Operalia, the competition he founded. For decades he was among the Metropolitan Opera’s most celebrated stars and became a symbol of an entire era in operatic history.

Domingo and Opolais share a long-standing artistic connection. Several years ago, Domingo expressed his wish to one day perform a duet with Kristine in her homeland, Latvia. Only now has that wish become a reality. For the first time, Latvian audiences will have the opportunity to hear these two remarkable artists perform together in Jurmala.

The third star of the evening will be the American tenor Michael Fabiano, one of the most celebrated singers of his generation. A recipient of both the Beverly Sills Artist Award and the Richard Tucker Award, Fabiano performs regularly at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, the Paris National Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Real Madrid, and many other leading opera houses worldwide.

Today, Fabiano stands at the height of his career. His repertoire includes many of the great tenor roles of the Italian and French traditions, and critics regard him as one of the most compelling dramatic tenors of our time. His appearance in Jurmala will be yet another exceptional gift for Latvian music lovers.

On July 29, three outstanding personalities of the international opera world will come together on one stage. Kristine Opolais, Plácido Domingo, and Michael Fabiano will perform alongside a symphony orchestra and choir to create an unforgettable evening of great music.

For the first time in history, Plácido Domingo will perform in Latvia. For the first time, Michael Fabiano will perform in Latvia. And for the first time, Latvian audiences will experience this unique constellation of stars brought together around the name of Kristine Opolais.

 

Valentin Uryupin, Conductor of the Gala Concert
Valentin Uryupin is one of the most sought-after conductors of his generation. After leaving Russia in 2022 following his public opposition to the war in Ukraine, Uryupin continued his international career in Europe and today regularly collaborates with leading orchestras and opera houses around the world.

Winner of the Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition, Valentin Uryupin is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding representatives of the new generation of conductors on the international music scene.