Daniil Kuzmins: “Even now, without having sung anything for the jury, I feel like a winner. I am already part of the history of Operalia”.
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This year, the only young Latvian talent, the baritone Daniils Kuzmins, will compete in the competition of the Baltic countries. The talented singer, a graduate of the Jāzeps Vītolas Academy of Music of Latvia (JVLMA), sings in the Latvian National Opera choir, as he continues his studies at the JVLMA master’s program and develops his vocal skills with his longtime teacher, opera bass Krišjānis Norvelis.
The only 22-year-old opera singer has already won several major awards – JVLMA and “LMT” Annual Award and first place at the Inese Galante Talent Competition (2020), as well as second place at the Jānis Zabers International Vocal Competition in 2019. This year, Daniils participated in the 11th Stanislav Monuško International Vocal Competition, performing at the “Vivat, Courland!” and at the Sigulda Opera Festival.
Which works did you choose for the “Operalia” competition?
D. Kuzmins: As before I will sing a more comic song from the Italian composer Gioacchino Rossini’s opera “Cenerentola”, I also prepared two other arias by Italian composers – a more serious one from Gaetano Donizetti’s “Favorites” and Silvio’s monologue from Ruggero’s “Pajaci” Leoncavallo “, as well as Fritz’s dramatic aria by the German composer” Dead City “by Eric Korngold. With these four very different arias I hope to show as much range and power as possible in my voice. Interestingly, I have learned the melodies. competition rules only in time, they were also a bit shocked that I initially wanted to perform with my piano teacher. The only condition I knew in advance was that there were four arias. Nothing else was made clear, I had to choose for myself how to best show myself – which one would be the safest and the brightest for me. This was also the main criterion for my choice: these arias are the safest for me, but at the same time even the most difficult.
Until my performance, I hope to hear one of the other participants as well.
How was the application for the contest itself?
It was interesting: I was preparing for the end of the academy and I submitted the application almost on the last day. My degree thesis was the role of Doctor Malatesta in Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Don Pasquale. By the way, to apply for the competition it is not necessary to pay a participation fee, any young singer can apply in complete safety and freedom. However, the application required a video, but it was not suitable for me, I was looking for an opportunity to record it. Exactly at the same time, my opera singing diploma exam took place, I filmed one of the fragments and sent it immediately. After that, in the rush of work, I even forgot about the application, then suddenly in mid-July a message arrived with an American telephone area code: “Hi, I’m Michelle from Operalia”. Do you want to participate or not? Do you confirm your application or not? ” It turns out that the organizers have been trying to contact me for some time. That’s how I found out I made it. Of course, I was happily shocked, but two weeks before the official announcement I was not allowed to reveal anything out loud. This is a very prestigious competition and I am the youngest participant this year.
What are your future projects for our Opera?
Well, I can definitely reveal them – just last week, it was confirmed that my Big Stage debut will take place in January – I will sing the role of Mazetto in Mozart’s opera “Don Juan”. These will be my first steps on the Opera Grand Stage. Now it’s my second season as an opera soloist, let’s see how my professional path will develop.
If you make it to the finalists, you will likely get noticed by opera houses around the world. Is there a role you dream of?
Of course, I want to conquer all possible world works. I’m still just 22, as one of my professors said – for a baritone, it’s a childish age. So I can still dream. For now, my closest dream is to sing at the National Opera in January. The fact that I was selected for Operalia is already a victory in itself, and even now, without having sung anything for the jury, I already feel like a winner. I am already part of the history of Operalia, I have been chosen among hundreds of applications!
“Operalia” – also LTV and Latvian Radio 3
* The live broadcast of the competition final will be provided by LTV and Latvijas Radio 3, but can be seen worldwide on “Medici.tv”, long-time media partner of “Operalia”.
* Latvian spectators will have the opportunity to witness in person the semi-finals of the competition on October 26th at 4pm and the festive Gala Concert on October 30th at 6pm
* The participants in the final will perform accompanied by the orchestra of the Latvian National Opera, conducted by Plácido Domingo.
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