Who is She?

"Although I was born in Slovakia, I am a Czech singer," says Bratislava-born soprano Gabriela Beňačková whose name will forever be associated with some of the greatest Czech and international composers. Her talent was first discovered by Přemysl Kočí, then Director of the National Theatre, during her third year at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (VŠMU)—until then, she had only experienced opera as a member of the public. Since then, her roles as Mařenka, Rusalka, Jenůfa, Mimi, Leonora, Desdemona, Tatiana, Katrena, and many others have made her famous worldwide. This year, Gabriela Beňačková announced her retirement wishing to dedicate herself to her family, especially her granddaughter, along with visits to art galleries, cooking, and mushroom picking. This is a symbolic moment in the Year of Czech Music 2024.

"We are only interpreters of what is written; we must therefore put our hearts into it."

– Gabriela Beňačková

Milestones

Performed regularly on the world’s leading stages: the National Theatre (Prague), Irish National Opera (Dublin), I Teatri di Reggio Emilia, Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, De Nationale Opera (Amsterdam), Bayerische Staatsoper (Munich), Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala (Milan), Teatro La Fenice (Venice), Opera Carlo Felice (Genoa), Gran Teatre del Liceu (Barcelona), Teatro Real (Madrid), Teatro de la Maestranza (Seville), Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires), Opéra national de Paris, Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris), Royal Opera House (London), Grand Théâtre de Genève, Opernhaus Zürich, Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Cologne), Theater Bonn, Staatsoper Hamburg, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Staatsoper Berlin, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Metropolitan Opera (New York), and Carnegie Hall (New York).

Collaborated with prominent Czech and international conductors: Claudio Abbado, Leonard Bernstein, James Conlon, Christoph von Dohnányi, John Fiore, Carlo Maria Giulini, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Jiří Kout, Luis García Navarro, Václav Neumann, Sir Charles Mackerras, Lovro von Matačić, Georges Prêtre, Nello Santi, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Sir Georg Solti, and Jeffrey Tate.

Recipient of prestigious titles and awards: Grammy Award, Thalia Award, Czech Republic's Medal of Merit in the Arts, Slovakia’s highest state honor—the Order of the Double White Cross, Giuseppe Verdi Gold Medal, Arturo Toscanini Award, title of National Artist of Czechoslovakia, as well as Chamber Singer of Austria and Germany, and the Janáček Medal.

Beňačková also lent her voice in the portrayal of famous sopranos in cinema including the film Divine Emma based on the life of Ema Destinnová.

The Allegro Forte - Faces of Czech Music exhibition was conceived and photographed by Štěpánka Stein and Vendy Mlejnská. Gabriela Beňačková is pictured in front of the allegorical statue of the Vltava river which stands on the Children’s Island in Prague.