Lungu Irina
Main achievement
Soprano. In 2016, she ranked 2nd worldwide in terms of the number of concerts performed in one year. One of the most appreciated talents of the 21st century.
About
Irina Lungu, a world-renowned soprano from the Republic of Moldova, was born on June 5, 1980, and distinguished herself with her brilliant, ample, and warm voice, appreciated by critics such as those from The New York Times. She graduated from the Voronezh State Conservatory, where she studied under the guidance of baritone Mikhail Podkopaev, earning degrees in choral conducting, piano, and singing, and later perfected her skills at the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Her career exploded in 2003 when Riccardo Muti chose her for the role of Anaï in "Moïse et Pharaon" at the opening of the La Scala season, quickly becoming a constant presence on the stages of major theaters, with roles such as Violetta in "La Traviata," Gilda in "Rigoletto," Mimi and Musetta in "La Bohème," or Marguerite in "Faust." She has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where she performed Adina in "L’elisir d’amore," Maria Stuarda, Nannetta in "Falstaff," and others, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro Real in Madrid, the Paris Opera, the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, and the Arena di Verona. Her debut at the Metropolitan in 2013 as Gilda, alongside Dmitri Hvorostovsky, was met with enthusiasm, and in 2015 she conquered the Vienna State Opera with Violetta. Ranked second in the list of the world's most popular sopranos according to bachtrack.com, Irina Lungu has also performed at festivals such as Aix-en-Provence and on stages in Berlin, Rome, London, and Munich, demonstrating versatility in the belcanto and Verdi repertoire. Although she moved with her family at the age of 11 to Borisoglebsk, Voronezh region in the Russian Federation, where she began her musical studies, her Moldovan origins remain an essential part of her identity, often highlighted in the press. Initially active mainly in the Russian Federation, through the Voronezh Opera and Ballet Theatre, her international career has surpassed borders, transforming her into a symbol of female excellence in opera. Details about her personal life are limited in public sources, but her total dedication to art and lyric theatre places her among the most admired contemporary voices.
