Opera soloist I. Jasiūnaitei was presented with the regalia of LNOBT honorary emeritus

Opera soloist Irena Jasiūnaita, who is celebrating her 95th birthday, was ceremoniously presented with regalia testifying to the title of honorary emeritus of the theater at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater (LNOBT).

"Dear Irena, I have not had the chance to see your performances live on stage, but the memories of you as an artist shared by my professors and senior colleagues were wonderful. I'm glad you still come to our theater. Your experience is very important to us", said Jonas Sakalauskas, general director of LNOBT, presenting the regalia of honorary emeritus to I. Jasiūnaitei.

I. Jasiūnaitė became the third honorary emeritus of LNOBT. Virgil Noreika (2013) and Vaclav Daunor (2018) were previously given this title, the theater said in a statement.

The opera soloist Vladimiras Prudnikovas, who led the tribute ceremony, brought a souvenir devil to the meeting, which his stage partner I. Jasiūnaitė gave him after the debut performance of "Faust" at LNOBT four decades ago with best wishes for the best future. Then V. Prudnikovas sang the part of Mephistopheles, and I. Jasiūnaitė - the part of Zybel. Later, both met in the operas "Prince Igor", "Aida", "Eugene Onegin".

I. Jasiūnaitė also remembered V. Noreika's debut performance in the operetta "Perikola", where she sang the main character Perikola, and V. Noreika - Pikil. They had to sing together at the premiere of Vytautas Klova's opera "Ave vita", which became the opening performance of the new LNOBT palace.

"Opera has been the greatest love of my life since the day I first saw Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida" in the theater. From that day I dreamed of singing in the theater. And when this dream came true, I put aside everything that was not related to the opera. I sacrificed everything: both the loves of my youth and dating", says I. Jasiūnaitė, who has reached a respectable age.

The soloist did not hesitate to give 40 years of her life to her beloved theater. During that time, LNOBT created about half a dozen roles on stage. Among them, the first mentioned is Carmen in Georges Bizet's opera of the same name. With the greatest love, she also remembers Mirta's part in V. Klova's popular opera Pilėnai, which she has sung 90 times and traveled all over Lithuania with, says the LNOBT report.

"Being in love is very important for an opera soloist. When you fall in love, the whole world lights up for you in the most beautiful colors, people seem nice, the mood is good, and then the performances are of a high level," I. Jasiūnaitė, who is celebrating her 95th birthday, is still convinced.