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== Early life and education ==
== Early life and education ==
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{{refimprove section|date=June 2020}}
Radakovic was born in [[Novi Sad]], then in [[Yugoslavia]].<ref>[https://www.takmicenjelazarjovanovic.com/en/dragana-radakovic-en "Dragana Radakovic was born in Novi Sad"] by International Voice Competition “Lazar Jovanovic" www.takmicenjelazarjovanovic.com access date 11 June 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/965605742|title=The international geographic encyclopedia and atlas|publisher=|others=De Mello Vianna, Fernando,|year=1979|isbn=978-1-349-05002-4|location=London|pages=561|oclc=965605742}}</ref> At age nine, she won in a television music-talent show on [[TV Novi Sad]]. She studied voice at the [[University of Arts in Belgrade]], graduating with [[Bachelor of Music|Degree in music]]. She continued her studies and obtained two [[Master's degree]]s, in conducting, with Stanko Šepić, and in vocal arts, with [[Radmila Bakočević]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=FACULTY OF MUSIC {{!}} Department of Conducting {{!}} University of Belgrade|url=http://www.fmu.bg.ac.rs/en/katedra_za_dirigovanje.php|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=11 June 2020|website=www.fmu.bg.ac.rs}}</ref> She took master classes in Italy, with [[Mirella Freni]], [[Renata Scotto]], [[Magda Olivero]] and {{ill|Bruna Baglioni|it}}, and was further coached by {{ill|Nikola Mitić|de}}.<ref>[https://operawire.com/obituary-serbian-nikola-mitic-dies-aged-80/ Nikola Mitic] "tutor of soprano Dragana Radakovic" by OperaWire on 2 February 2019</ref>
Radakovic was born in [[Novi Sad]], then in [[Yugoslavia]].<ref>[https://www.takmicenjelazarjovanovic.com/en/dragana-radakovic-en "Dragana Radakovic was born in Novi Sad"] by International Voice Competition “Lazar Jovanovic" www.takmicenjelazarjovanovic.com access date 11 June 2020</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/965605742|title=The international geographic encyclopedia and atlas|publisher=|others=De Mello Vianna, Fernando,|year=1979|isbn=978-1-349-05002-4|location=London|pages=561|oclc=965605742}}</ref> At age nine, she won in a television music-talent show on [[TV Novi Sad]]. She studied at Faculty of Music of the [[University of Arts in Belgrade]], where she obtained two [[Master's degree]]s, in conducting, with Stanko Šepić, and in vocal arts, with [[Radmila Bakočević]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=FACULTY OF MUSIC {{!}} Department of Conducting {{!}} University of Belgrade|url=http://www.fmu.bg.ac.rs/en/katedra_za_dirigovanje.php|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=11 June 2020|website=www.fmu.bg.ac.rs}}</ref> She took master classes in Italy, with [[Mirella Freni]], [[Renata Scotto]], [[Magda Olivero]] and {{ill|Bruna Baglioni|it}}, and was further coached by {{ill|Nikola Mitić|de}}.<ref>[https://operawire.com/obituary-serbian-nikola-mitic-dies-aged-80/ Nikola Mitic] "tutor of soprano Dragana Radakovic" by OperaWire on 2 February 2019</ref>


== Early career ==
== Early career ==

Revision as of 13:56, 11 June 2020

Dragana Radakovic
Dragana Radakovic, 2017
Occupation(s)Opera singer (soprano), conductor, academic
Years active2002–present
Websitewww.draganaradakovic.art

Dragana Radakovic (also: Radaković, Cyrillic: Радаковић) is an operatic soprano, conductor and academic. With a flexible voice, she is able to sing bel canto as well as dramatic soprano roles. She has appeared at major opera houses in title and leading roles, including Bellini's Norma, Verdi's Aida, and Puccini's Turandot.

Early life and education

Radakovic was born in Novi Sad, then in Yugoslavia.[1][2] At age nine, she won in a television music-talent show on TV Novi Sad. She studied at Faculty of Music of the University of Arts in Belgrade, where she obtained two Master's degrees, in conducting, with Stanko Šepić, and in vocal arts, with Radmila Bakočević.[3] She took master classes in Italy, with Mirella Freni, Renata Scotto, Magda Olivero and Bruna Baglioni [it], and was further coached by Nikola Mitić [de].[4]

Early career

Radakovic began performing in concerts during her studies. She made her opera stage debut, also during her student years, at the National Theatre in Belgrade appearing in roles of Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze de Figaro, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Tebaldo in Verdi's Don Carlo, Mary Warren in Ward's The Crucible and Musetta in Puccini's La bohème. She became a member of the ensemble in 2002.[5]

Soprano career

Radakovic's first role as a member of National Theatre was Abigaille in Verdi's Nabucco.[5] Praised in reviews, her Abigaille interpretation has been in significant and steady demand ever since – during 2019 alone she had 29 Nabucco performances.[6]

Soon after her debut, she received invitations to perform as a guest artist at other opera houses, and expanded her repertoire singing Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II in 2004 and Odabella in Verdi's Attila in 2005 at the Serbian National Theatre, and Marguerite in Gounod's Faust in 2006 at the Maribor Slovene National Theatre. In the following year she added te roles of Leonora in Verdi's Il Trovatore, Sylvia in Kálmán's Die Csárdásfürstin, and the soprano soloist in Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

She started performing at opera houses throughout Europe in 2008. She was soprano soloist at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in a Puccini concert conducted by Placido Domingo, in 2009 she appeared as Leonora in Verdi's La forza del destino, and as Aida. In 2011, she sang the title role of Puccini's Tosca at the Romanian National Opera, Cluj-Napoca, and the title role of Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur at the Opera Timișoara.

Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni was her new role for 2012, in a production that went on European tour, with performances in Timisoara, Munich, Dortmund, Wolfsburg, Saarbrucken, Frankfurt. In the same year, as a soprano soloist, she sung at several opera festivals and concerts in Timisoara, Sibiu, Constanța, Hunedoara, Tilburg, Brugge, Breda, the Hague.[7]

In 2013, she appeared as Bellini's Norma at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek, and as Desdemona in Verdi's Otello in Craiova.[8][9][10] During the year she performed her roles at opera halls in Europe, at Opera Timișoara as Leonora in Il Trovatore, at Summer Festival in Schwerin as Abigaille in Nabucco, in Giuseppe Verdi 200th anniversary concert with Zurich Kammerphilharmonie, and she debuted as a soprano soloist in Mozart's Reqiem at Athenaeum.

In 2014 she was invited to Egypt to perform Aida at the location where it was premiered in 1871, at Cairo Opera House.[11] That year she also sang Verdi's Requiem in Cluj, and Puccini's Turandot at Opera Timișoara for the first time. Turandot was to become her new signature role.

During following year she appeared for the first time as Desdemona in Otello at the Festival Maria Bieshu in Moldova, followed by performing as Tosca the first time at Hungarian Opera.[12][13]

During 2016 she was performing the title role in a premiere of Puccini's Turandot in Sydney, Australia.[14] The Handa Opera's spectaclular new production of Turandot was staged by Opera Australia on Sydney Harbour with a budget of $12 million.[15] "Turandot" was conducted by Brian Castles-Onion, directed & choreographed by Chen Shi-Zheng, set & costumes designed by Dan Potra, with Riccardo Massi as Calàf and Hyeseoung Kwon as Liù. After fourteen Turandot performances in Sydney, she went to Macao to perform the same role in another premiere of a new Turandot production, conducted by Lu Jia, directed by Giancarlo del Monaco, stage and costumes designed by William Orlandi, with Rudy Park and Jorge de León as Calaf and Lana Kos as Liu.[16] In the autumn of 2016 she appeared for the first time in mainland China, in her new role of Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana directed by Giancarlo del Monaco at Beijing Performung Arts Centre.[17] She finished the year back in Sydney as a soprano soloist at New Year's Eve Gala concert held in Sydney Opera House.[18]

After performing in several opera houses in Europe as Norma, Tosca, Santuzza, Aida, Leonora (Il Trovatore), Radakovic returned to Australia in 2017 for premiere performances in the role of Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana with Opera Australia at Sydney Opera House and Melbourne Arts Centre, in a new production conducted by Andrea Licata, directed by Damiano Michieletto, Andy Morto and Rodula Gaitanou, with Diego Torre as Turiddu and Sian Pendry as Lola.[19][20] At the end of 2017 she sung excerpts form her new title role, Catalani's La Wally, in a concet at Sava Centar hall in Belgrade.

In 2018 she returened to Egypt in the title role of Verdi's Aida, in a grand spectacle, the 150th anniversary.[21] The open-air production was staged under the stars at the historic complex of Pyramids at Giza, with massive props and 300 extras on stage. Aida was conducted by David Crescenzi, with Cairo Symphony Orchestra and Dario di Vietri as Radames. During the same year she sung at several concerts as soprano soloist: "Verdi's and Pucinni's arias" in Opera Nice, Gala anniversary Corneliu Murgu at Opera Timișoara, 60th anniversary RTS at Tašmajdan Stadium in Belgrade, and in Sibiu for the first time in Verdi's Requiem as the soprano soloist. The same year she also performed for the first time at Bolshoi Theater Belarus in the title role of Tosca, with Akhmed Agadi as Cavaradossi, conducted by Gianluca Marciano.[22] Her new opera role in 2018 was Elisabetta di Valois in Verdi's Don Carlo at Sala Mare, in the production conducted by Tiberiu Soare, directed by Mario De Carlo, with Adrian Dumitry as Don Carlo.[23]

Radakovic returned for the 2019 season to Sydney Opera House with Opera Australia in the title role in Verdi's Turandot, in the production conducted by Tahu Matheson, directed and coreographed by Graeme Murphy. Matthew Barclay and Kim Walker, with tenors Yongoon Lee and Andeka Gorrotxategi in the role of Calaf, and Mariana Hong as Liù.[24] After Sydney appearances Radakovic was invited to Taiwan to perform as Turandot in the opening performance of the new landmark building, the largest performing arts centre in the world, built in Kaohsiung.[25] Verdi's Turandot production was staged in the opera hall with more than 2,200 seats, in co-operation with Deutsche Oper am Rhein, conducted by Chien Wen-pin, directed by Huan-Hsiung Li and Jeremy Chang, with Zoran Todorovich as Calaf and Anke Krabbe as Liù.[26] During 2019 she performed with several opera companies in Europe in Norma, Turandot, and in a new production of Verdi's Nabucco in Braunschweig conducted by Srba Dinić, directed by Klaus Christian Schreiber and Sarah Grahneis.[27] She also returned to France and Egypt that year, as a soloist in "Art for Life" gala charity concert "Lyrique" at Opéra de Nice, and in under the stars gala concert "Essence of Aida" at the Temple of Isis at Philae in Aswan.[28]

The 2020 was largely impacted by CoVid19 pandemic. Prior to worldwide cancellation of all performances, Radakovic performed in a new production of Turandot, in the title role at Bucharest Opera.[29]

Teaching

Radakovic has been Associate Professor of Conducting at the Faculty of Music Arts from 2009, and also head of the university's Opera Studio.[30]

Recorded works

  • Turandot: Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, Opera Australia and ABC Classics. OCLC: 980870794
  • Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: The Greatest Hits, ABC Classics. OCLC: 1099054834

Reference

  1. ^ "Dragana Radakovic was born in Novi Sad" by International Voice Competition “Lazar Jovanovic" www.takmicenjelazarjovanovic.com access date 11 June 2020
  2. ^ The international geographic encyclopedia and atlas. De Mello Vianna, Fernando,. London. 1979. p. 561. ISBN 978-1-349-05002-4. OCLC 965605742.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ "FACULTY OF MUSIC | Department of Conducting | University of Belgrade". www.fmu.bg.ac.rs. Retrieved 11 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Nikola Mitic "tutor of soprano Dragana Radakovic" by OperaWire on 2 February 2019
  5. ^ a b Dragana Radakovic Opera Australia
  6. ^ Performance schedule OperaBase
  7. ^ Radaković – Donna Anna, "... seduced by Don Giovanni, in Timisoara", Timis Online, 10 February 2012
  8. ^ Radakovic as Norma in the premiere of Norma, Culturenet 24 May 2013
  9. ^ Radakovic - Desdemona Otello directed by Rareș Zahariaon on TV in Craiova, 17 February 2013
  10. ^ Radakovic as Desdemona Opera Craiova on 8 October 2013
  11. ^ Aida in a Cairo "in opera season 2014/15 Aida will feature soloists from the Cairo Opera Company alongside guest singers: Soprano Dragana Radakovic…" Ahramonline, 30 September 2014
  12. ^ Radakovic "On September 9, will take place the premiere of the opera Otello, by Giuseppe Verdi." Ministry of Culture, Moldova, on 9 March 2015
  13. ^ Radakovic guest Tosca "... has nothing on Renata Tebaldi, who in one performance just calmly walked of the stage for everyone's amazement." Talk Classical on 29 November 2015
  14. ^ Radakovic - Turandot schedule of performances Opera Australia March-April 2016
  15. ^ "Turandot opera has cost $12 million…", ABC News on 15. 03. 2016.[1]
  16. ^ Turandot: Radakovic opera director Giancarlo del Monaco, 1 October 2016
  17. ^ Cavalleria rusticana "Soprano: Dragana Radakovic Alto: FU Xi. Mezzo-Soprano: QU Weiqing. Tenor: XUE Haoyin. Baritone: LI Sun." NCPA Beijing 27 November 2016
  18. ^ NYE Gala Concert "Starring Dragana Radakovic" media release by Opera Australia 31 December 2016
  19. ^ Santuzza: Radakovic schedule of performances in Sydney by Opera Australia 2017
  20. ^ Santuzza: Radakovic scedule of peformances in Melbourne by Opera Australia 2017
  21. ^ Aida: Radakovic Egyptian Tourism Authority on 4 February 2018
  22. ^ Bolshoi Press release: "winner of international competitions Dragana Radakovic as Tosca" on 22 November 2018
  23. ^ Elisabetta: Radakovic by Ziarul Metropolis on 7 December 2018
  24. ^ Turandot: Radakovic Sydney Opera House schedule 2019
  25. ^ "The National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Known as Weiwuying after its surrounding park, it is the world's largest performing arts center under one roof." The New York Times on January 29, 2019[2]
  26. ^ Tutandot: Radakovic performance program by Kaohsiung opera venue on 30 January 2019
  27. ^ Abigaille: Radakovic by Das Staatstheater Braunschweig 2019
  28. ^ Gala charity concert in Nice press release by Nice-matin in (fr) on 23 May 2019
  29. ^ Turandot: Radakovic performance schedule Guleghina 13 Feb, Radakovic 14 Feb, by Opera Bucharest 2020
  30. ^ Biography at Faculty of Music Arts