Jurate Svedaite - Biography

Jurate - The Baltic Rusalka

Jurate's name is from Lithuanian folklore, the tale of the mermaid goddess of the sea, Jurate, and her human lover, Kastytis. After finding them out, Perkunas, the god of thunder, conjured up a great storm that resulted in Kastytis drowning and the destruction of her amber palace. This is why amber pieces wash up on the Baltic shore after storms.

Rusalka is a role that Jurate has a special connection to. To hear her Song to the Moon, choose below:

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Radiant Lithuanian soprano, Jurate Švedaite, has performed throughout Europe and the United States with the Lithuanian National Chamber Orchestra, the European Baroque Festival Opera, Connecticut Lyric Opera, Kaunas Chamber Orchestra, Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the Lithuanian National Ensemble "Lietuva," and Mystic River Chorale, among others in venues as varied as the Lithuanian Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and Foxwood’s Resort and Casino.

Quickly establishing herself as a stage performer of remarkable artistry and sensitivity capable of “transfixing audiences with moments of opera magic,” in 2008/2009 Ms. Švedaite will add one of opera’s greatest heroines to her repertoire - Violetta in La Traviata - as well as reprising Tatyana in Eugene Onegin. Her previous roles include Mimi in La Bohème, Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Marguerite in Faust, the title role in Floyd’s Susannah, Micaela in Carmen, Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Adina in l'Elisir d'Amore, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors and Valencienne in The Merry Widow. An active perfomer of sacred works and oratorios as well, her credits include Monteverde’s and Vivaldi’s Magnificats; Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Coffe and Peasant Cantatas as well as numerous sacred cantatas; Mozart’s Requiem, Exsultate Jubilate and Missa Brevis; Pergolessi’s Stabat Mater; and Faure's Requiem.

The granddaughter of one of Lithuania’s most revered composers and arrangers of traditional music, Jonas Švedas, she began performing at an early age and made her recording debut at the tender age of twelve; also at that time, she hosted several programs for children on national television. Ms. Švedaite later attended the Lithuanian Music Academy where she earned Bachelors and Masters and Degrees in Opera and Vocal Instruction. She now resides in SE Connecticut where she is on the faculty of Connecticut College and Thames Valley Music School.