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Jana Sýkorová, contralto

Jana Sýkorová, Prague's Carmen

Czech contralto Jana Sýkorová has reprised the role of Carmen at the Prague National Theatre and in seven other productions. She was dubbed as “one of the most interesting Carmen” by a French critic at Forum Opera. As a leading soloist with the Prague State Opera since 1999, her performances have included the title roles of Bizet’s Carmen, Vivaldi’s Orlando furioso, Thomas’ Mignon, Dvořák’s Kate and the Devil, Petitgirard’s Elephant Man and Viklický’s Faidra and The Ploughman and the Death – last three as world premieres.

Her signature parts also include Verdi’s Azucena, Ulrica, Maddalena, Fenena, Massenet’s Charlotte or Dvořák’s Ježibaba /The Witch in Rusalka/. Jana Sýkorová’s world premiere in Prague and the French one in Nice of Petitgirard’s opera Joseph Merrick dit Elephant Man won international acclaim in 2002 as did the DVD subsequently released on the Marco Polo label and called the "DVD of the Month February 2005" by the Gramophone Magazine.

In 2007, Jana Sýkorová made her debut as Maddalena with the London Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where she returned to perform the role of Mercédès and to cover the title role in Carmen. Another guest performances have taken her to Berlin /as Death/, twice to Nice /as Elephant Man and Maddalena/ and to the Wels Festival /as Grimgerde, Wagner's Die Walküre/, to Dijon /as Maddalena/. Jana Sýkorová performed Azucena in Helsinki in 2018.

See Jana Sýkorová's reviews.

Jana Sýkorová has cooperated with eminent conductors such as B. Gregor, J. Bělohlávek, G. Albrecht, S. Baudo, Ch. Dutoit, F.Haider, L. Hager, J. Latham-Koenig, M. Guidarini, R. Palumbo, D. Oren, R. Rizzi-Brignoli, B. Klee, I. Metzmacher, P. Fournillier, T. Netopil, J. Hrůša, T. Hanus or R. Jindra, with stage directors such as D. Mesguich, D. McVicar, F. Zambello. As a soloist with symphonic orchestras, Jana Sýkorová has performed in ten countries of Europe and in Japan; particular mention should be made in regard to her performances in Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody with B. Klee and I. Metzmacher, in European concerts with G. Albrecht including Dvořák’s St. Ludmila on DVD, in Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass with NHK under the baton of Ch. Dutoit.

In addition to an extensive concert career, Jana has recorded Dvořák's opera The Stubborn Lovers on CD and several oratorios such as Dvořák St. Ludmila, Stabat Mater, Requiem awarded Japanese Tokusen Prize, Janáček Glagolitic Mass with Ch. Dutoit and NHK (Tokyo Suntory Hall in 2009) or with T. Netopil (Supraphon 2014).

See Jana Sýkorová's list of recordings.

"Les grandes Carmen ne manquent pas a travers le monde: ne citons, parmi les plus intéressantes, qu'Annette Küttenbaum (avec Kupfer au Komische Oper de Berlin) et Jana Sýkorová (avec Bednarik au Národní Divadlo de Prague)."
Jean-Marcel Humbert, Sophisticated ladies, Forum Opera, 2008
https://www.forumopera.com/spectacle/sophisticated-ladies

Ms Jana Sýkorová’s opera schedule throughout the 2021 - 2022 season is including:

• Ježibaba /Witch (Dvořák Rusalka) Prague State Opera
• Ježibaba /Witch (Dvořák Rusalka) Ostrava Moravian Silesian Theatre
• Maddalena (Verdi Rigoletto) Prague State Opera
• Suzuki (Puccini Madama Butterfly) Prague State Opera
• Gertruda (Humperdinck Hänsel und Gretel) Prague State Opera
  
• Dritte Dame (Mozart Die Zauberflöte) Prague National Theatre production held at Mozart's Estates Theatre
  

Her concerts are including Verdi Requiem, Dvořák Stabat Mater, Wagner Wesendonk-Lieder, Dvořák Biblical Songs etc.

See Jana Sýkorová's calendar.

      Jana Sýkorová/s prizes have included:

• 1998 “Europäischer Förderpreis für junge Künstler”
• 1997 First Prize and Laureateship in Junior Category, Antonín Dvořák International Singing Contest, Karlovy Vary
• 1997 Prize awarded by the Czech Broadcasting Authority for best realization of a 20th Century Song Cycle, Antonín Dvořák International Singing Contest, Karlovy Vary
• 1997 Stanislaw Moniuszko Prize, Antonín Dvořák International Singing Contest, Karlovy Vary
• 1996 Jarmila Novotná Prize, Antonín Dvořák International Singing Contest, Karlovy Vary
• 1995 First Prize, International Contest of Conservatories of Music, Pardubice

Jana Sýkorová's artistic biography - short

Ms. Jana Sýkorová is represented by the agency Richard Kolář, RKM Ltd. Prague
 

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