svedaite

Jūratė Švedaitė
Soprano

Facebook

Personal Website

Press Kit

Possessing a vocal artistry and stage presence capable of “transfixing audiences with moments of opera magic,” Lithuanian soprano, Jūratė Švedaitė, has performed throughout Europe and the United States with the Lithuanian National Chamber Orchestra, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Kaunas (Lithuania) Chamber Orchestra, Classical Orchestra of Piła (Poland) and the Lithuanian National Ensemble “Lietuva” among others.

Ms. Švedaitė has appeared in venues as varied as Carnegie Hall, the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre and Foxwood’s Resort and Casino. On the operatic stage, Ms. Švedaitė has performed more than 20 leading roles including Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly, the diva Tosca, Violetta in La Traviata, Mimi in La bohème, Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Desdemona in Otello, Senta in Die Fliegende Hollander, Marguerite in Faust and Micaela in Carmen.

An active performer of sacred works and oratorios as well, her credits include Bach’s Mass in B minor, Mozart’s Requiem, Brahm’s Ein Deutsches Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem and Orff’s Carmina Burana.

The granddaughter of one of Lithuania’s most revered composers and arrangers of traditional music, Jonas Švedas, Ms. Švedaitė attended the Lithuanian Music Academy where she earned Bachelor and Master Degrees in Opera Performance and Vocal Instruction.

Ms. Švedaitė resides in Southeastern Connecticut where she is an Associate Professor at Connecticut College.

“Madama Butterfly flies on the wings of Svedaite’s title role” (Headline) …Connecticut Lyric Opera staged a most satisfying, and at times deeply moving, “Madama Butterfly,” thanks largely to that single performer: soprano Jurate Svedaite in the title role and her assured and powerful vocal performance… The best qualities of her voice were showcased in the opera’s showstopper, the Act 2 “Un bel di,”… In the aria, her remarkable evenness of power and character throughout her wide range, in full voice and half, was in full display… Hers is a beautiful instrument and it carried the 2½-hour production"
Milton Moore
The New London Day
"Floria Tosca is the ultimate glamour-goddess role -- a prima donna portraying a prima donna. Rising to the daunting task was Jurate Svedaite, resident diva of CLO. Predictably, she reveled in the lyric aspects of the part -- the tender love duets with Mario and the beautiful "Vissi d'arte" aria. What was not expected was the gutsy tigress she became onstage in her powerful confrontations with Scarpia in Act 2. Those high C's were all bullseyes, the chest voice had just the right cutting impact, she scorched and she sizzled in probably the best performance she has ever given anywhere to date, one that can only get even better with repetition."
Larry Kellum
The Town Times (Middletown, CT)
"Soprano Jurate Švedaite effectively transitioned between moments of dramatic explosiveness and delicate richness. She performed “Vissi d’arte (I lived for art)” with an elegant combination of these qualities in a scene that broke away from the second act to create a memorable sonic oasis"
Jeffrey Johnson
The Hartford Courant