Opera star Jolanta Strikaite-Lapiņa is sharing a glimpse into her pre-performance rituals, including what she avoids eating before taking the stage.
The acclaimed soprano and her husband, plastic surgeon Jānis Lapiņš, are scheduled to appear on the TV channel 360 cooking show “Dr. Sirmais” with chef Mārtins Sirmais, according to 1188.lv. The appearance promises a look into the singer’s culinary preferences.
Strikaite-Lapiņa, a graduate of the Latvian Music Academy with a master’s degree in opera singing, has also honed her skills in masterclasses with renowned instructors from the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Latvia. She became a diplomand of the Alīda Vāne International Competition in 2013 and participated in the Nordopera Intensive Young Singers Program that same year, as noted by the Latvian National Opera and Ballet.
Before dedicating herself fully to opera, Strikaite-Lapiņa was part of the musical group ‘Lady’s Sweet’ alongside Karīna Tropu and Vineta Elksne from 2009 to 2013. Reflecting on her career path in a 2013 interview, she stated, “It’s as if I’ve already done a lot on stage, but in reality my big, serious professional life, which I’ve been working towards for all these years, hasn’t even begun.” She also expressed a preference for operatic music, saying, “I never wanted to be a pop singer.” as reported by dizlaudis.mozello.lv
Her repertoire includes roles in productions such as Lolita (J.Kalniņš’ Lolitas brīnumputns), Leonora (P.Hindemits’ Ilgais Ziemassvētku mielasts), and the title role in O.Respīgi’s Ēģiptes Marija, earning her a nomination for the Annual Music Award’s Production of the Year in 2013. This performance highlights her growing prominence within the Latvian opera scene.
