· Classical
Juliana Grigoryan Wins Hildegard Behrens Prize
The 14th annual Hildegard Behrens Prize was awarded to Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program soprano Juliana Grigoryan, from Armenia. Juliana Grigoryan is in her first year of the program. The prize was presented to Juliana at a ceremony in the Metropolitan Opera Grand Tier on February 9th, 2024, in celebration of the 87th anniversary of Ms. Behrens’ birthday, Fanfaire.com reports.
“I was truly surprised when Mr. Gaston Ormazabal told me I had received this incredible prize. It is an honor to be recognized by your esteemed organization. I am humbled and deeply touched that one’s art is appreciated by the world of classical music. Organizations like the Behrens Foundation are a source of great inspiration for any young artist. It is very important to feel this support in the first steps of your career.”
The award commemorates one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century, whom The New York Times proclaimed a “supersoprano”, Opera News declared “The Incomparable Hildegard” and “The greatest living Brünnhilde”, France’s Le Monde described as “Bouleversante” (Stunning), and Vienna’s Der Standard affirmed “Die grandioseste Brünnhilde der letzten Jahrzehnte” (The most magnificent Brünnhilde of the last decades).
Melissa Wegner, Executive Director at the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, said “On behalf of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, it is a privilege to have our artists receive support and recognition from the Hildegard Behrens Foundation. Soprano Juliana Grigoryan is stepping into a major operatic career and I know her artistry will honor the memory of one of the Met’s most esteemed dramatic sopranos, Hildegard Behrens.”
“I was truly surprised when Mr. Gaston Ormazabal told me I had received this incredible prize. It is an honor to be recognized by your esteemed organization. I am humbled and deeply touched that one’s art is appreciated by the world of classical music. Organizations like the Behrens Foundation are a source of great inspiration for any young artist. It is very important to feel this support in the first steps of your career.”
The award commemorates one of the greatest Wagnerian sopranos of the 20th century, whom The New York Times proclaimed a “supersoprano”, Opera News declared “The Incomparable Hildegard” and “The greatest living Brünnhilde”, France’s Le Monde described as “Bouleversante” (Stunning), and Vienna’s Der Standard affirmed “Die grandioseste Brünnhilde der letzten Jahrzehnte” (The most magnificent Brünnhilde of the last decades).
Melissa Wegner, Executive Director at the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, said “On behalf of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, it is a privilege to have our artists receive support and recognition from the Hildegard Behrens Foundation. Soprano Juliana Grigoryan is stepping into a major operatic career and I know her artistry will honor the memory of one of the Met’s most esteemed dramatic sopranos, Hildegard Behrens.”
