The return of a star, the birth of a diva. Asmik Grigorian performs at the Music Hall in the opera show “A Diva is Born”.

A brilliant voice and exceptional dramatic abilities. A delicate nature and a powerful voice. A national music award even before graduating from the conservatory and an opera “Oscar” – International Opera Award. The title of German Singer of the Year, one “Opus Klassik” and two “Opernwelt” awards. Performances in New York and London, Milan and Vienna, Paris and Salzburg. Asmik Grigorian has conquered the world’s most significant music stages and is now coming to conquer the Helsinki Music Centre together with pianist Hyung-Ki Joo.

Asmik Grigorian is the daughter of two artists, the Armenian-born Gegham Grigorian and the Lithuanian soprano Irena Milkevičiūtė. At the age of 22, she sang the title role of La Traviata in her hometown of Vilnius. At the age of 23, she signed her first foreign contract in Norway. Her first singing teachers were her parents. “The model of singing and the model of life are only slightly different,” says Asmik. “My father encouraged me to love the world and people, to be open and courageous. The first thing my mother taught me was the beauty of the natural human voice, without operatic embellishment, without artificiality. Singing must feel natural…”

Latvian opera lovers remember the young Asmika well. She visited Riga to sing at the Latvian National Opera – Carmen, Don Giovanni, Manon Lescaut and Triptych – and twice performed at the Sigulda Opera Festival gala concerts. Years later, after her impressive debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, she made a revelation. “At the beginning of my career, I had a reputation as a ‘pure stage animal’ – I was considered a born talent who could not control my voice 100%. And it was true. Control comes with experience, I was too young.” The roles kept coming, and in 2012 Asmika felt that she could no longer cope with the load. “I damaged my voice, I damaged my body, I damaged everything. I could no longer sing. I understood that there were only two options: to continue destroying myself or to start all over again.”

Having chosen the latter, Asmik spent years perfecting her singing technique. One day, she read a review: “Technically impeccable singer, but not as interesting an actor.” This was a turning point. Realizing that she could now trust her voice, Asmik blossomed on stage again. In 2017, she made her debut on the world-class festival stage in Salzburg – and opera critics and audiences had no doubt: they had a real star in front of them.

Great opera directors such as Romeo Castellucci, Barrie Kosky and Dmitri Chernyakov build productions with her in mind, and the best conductors invite her to their performances. In the 2025/2026 season, Asmik Grigorian has sung Lady Macbeth in Salzburg, Salome in London and Hamburg, Rusalka in Barcelona and Munich, Desdemona in Madrid, Tatyana in New York and Vienna, Turandot in Dortmund, Manon Lescaut in Frankfurt, and has given concerts all over the world.

The show “A Diva is Born” is special, however. It depicts Asmika’s biography – not from an official perspective, but from behind the scenes. There, the private comes to light and wishes come true. There, after an insult, there is no need to remain silent, but rather they are answered directly. There, one is allowed to drop one’s evening gown, sit at the piano in leather shorts and sing, for example, Janis Joplin. Or Bernstein. Or Sting. Or Bizet – but not that tearful aria that is meant for sopranos. Only a diva can allow herself the luxury of being herself like that.

Asmik Grigorian's partner in this two-hour adventure is the virtuoso British pianist, composer, showman and immensely charismatic Hyung-ki Joo, who is well known to the audience as a member of the comedic musical duo Igudesman & Joo.

The collaboration between the opera prima donna and the world's most eccentric concert pianist has already produced excellent results – the show "A Diva is Born" was on the program of the 2025 Salzburg Festival. However, Finnish audiences do not have to travel to Austria. Asmik Grigorian and Hyung-ki Joo will perform at the Helsinki Music Centre on February 21.