Opera Circles – an evening with a personality from the world of Slovenian operatic art was dedicated to the personality and work of Marjana Lipovšek, one of the world's greatest opera and concert music artists. Marjana Lipovšek is the winner of numerous awards, including the Prešeren Fund Award.
The interview was led by Mojca Menart. In collaboration with KD Glasbena Matica and SNG Opera and Ballet.
Among the world's greatest opera stars today is the mezzo-soprano Marjana Lipovšek, daughter of Slovenian composer Marjan Lipovšek and pianist Pia Lenardi Lipovšek. She was introduced to the world of music at an early age. She first graduated from the Department of Music Pedagogy at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana (1970), then devoted herself to studying singing in Graz, graduating in 1977. The very next year she was engaged by the Vienna State Opera, and in 1981 she went to Hamburg for three years; since then she has lived as a free artist.
Her repertoire includes practically all the roles in her field, she has performed on all opera and ballet stages around the world, as well as as a concert singer in recitals, where she has sung everything from soliloquies to oratorios and cantatas. Her singing is distinguished by a beautiful voice, perfect technique, musical interpretation and exceptional acting talent. She sings with equal success in Italian, French and German operas, and is also an excellent interpreter of Mahler's compositions, and her recitals also include soliloquies by Slovenian composers, especially the songs of her father Marjan Lipovšek.
She has received a number of important awards and recognitions for her work both at home and abroad. For her outstanding achievements, she received the Prešeren Award in 1988, the Silver Medal of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia in 1994, and in 2002, on the occasion of the celebration of the three hundredth anniversary of the Slovenian Philharmonic and its predecessors, she was named its honorary member. In 1993, she received the honorary title of "Bavarian Chamber Singer", in 1996 a similar title in Vienna, in 1996 the Gustav Mahler Gold Medal in Vienna, and in 2001 the Gold Medal for Science and Culture of the Republic of Austria.
When she won the Prešeren Award in 1998, she said about her beginnings and successes: "When I realized that I had a voice that gave me the opportunity to express myself musically, I knew that this expressive power was very great in me. However, I was aware that I had to bring my voice to such a high technical level that it would enable me to do so. Right now, in recent months, it seems to me that I have reached a quality point at which I can completely convince everyone of my truth. This truth has not changed in the ten years since my singing beginnings. I was lucky that after studying at the pedagogical department of the Ljubljana Academy of Music, I was free, that I did not get a job and decided to continue my studies in Graz... I must say that when I started singing in Graz, I did not even really compete for singing. I told myself - if it works, it will work, but it has to be really good, I will just try, otherwise nothing. – I think that in life you have to take things this way, and not by force. And also: “The most beautiful feeling for me is singing on stage – it is a kind of meditation for me… Yes, it is a catharsis. This experience is now much more concentrated, much more conscious and always more elaborate, stronger. That is why I am starting to filter the offers more and more and to work less. Art absorbs a person into itself and happiness is like that… Yes, it is a gift, something that you have been given. In my opinion, every person who has such a gift also has a life mission that they must fulfill. I do not have children and I think that it should be that way; every mother gives a lot to her child and I give to art… I think there is no compromise here.”
Marjana Lipovšek already has an exceptionally rich discography with over 50 albums: from recordings of complete operas to recitals of solo songs or performances in oratorios and cantatas. She has also recorded some albums at home. Primož Kurent: One Hundred Slovenian Opera Stars, Calendar Collection, Prešernova družba dd; Ljubljana, 2005
