Sena Jurinac, born Srebrenka Jurinac, one of the world's finest operatic sopranos, was born on 24th October 1921 in Travnik, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Opera lovers will remember Sena Jurinac's richly toned voice in numerous roles including Mimi (La Bohème), Elisabetta (Don Carlos), Desdemona (Otello), Pamina (The Magic Flute), and many, many others.
Milestones in Sena Jurinac's Career
After studying at the Zagreb Academy of Music, and also with Milka Kostrencic, whose other well-known students include Zinka Milanov, Jurinac made her début at the Zagreb Opera in 1942 playing Mimi in La Bohème. In 1943 Jurinac was awarded a scholarship to attend a summer course run by the Austrian Wagnerian soprano, Anna von Mildenburg, at the Salzburg Mozarteum. In 1943/4 she sang the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, and also created the role of Isabella in Werner Egk's radio opera, Columbus (1942)
In 1944 the Vienna State Opera recognised Jurinac's extraordinary talents and offered her a contract. Unfortunately, because of World War II, the opera closed down just a few days after her arrival and she was unable to sing with them until 1946. When she did finally appear she took the part of Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. Jurinac enjoyed a long association with the Vienna State Opera during the following forty years. She was awarded honorary membership of the company, receiving the title of Kammersängerin, (chamber singer), and the Mozart Medal.
It was during her time with the Vienna Opera that Jurinac took the nickname ″Sena″. It was suggested by a secretary working in the office of the Austrian conductor Karl Böhm. Apparently the secretary thought Austrians might have difficulty pronouncing the name ″Srebrenka″.
In 1947 Sena Jurinac appeared with the Vienna State Opera at London's Royal Opera House where she appeared as Dorabella in Così fan tutte. She later, in 1959, appeared as Cio Cio San in Madame Butterfly, with the Covent Garden Opera Company.
Jurinac also sang with the Wiener Ensemble, together with German soprano Irmgard Seefried; German-born Austrian/British soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; the Slovene tenor, Anton Dermota, and others.
Jurinac became a regular visitor to England, taking many principal Mozart roles at Glyndebourne and Covent Garden, including Leonore in Fidelio. In 1959 she made her American début in San Francisco when she took the title role of Madame Butterfly.
Jurinac retired in November 1982 after playing the Marschallin in Richard Strauss's three-act comic opera, Der Rosenkavalier (The Knight of the Rose), at the Vienna State Opera. In retirement she became a much sought after teacher and recital performer, and also served as a judge on many international singing competitions.
Sena Jurinac passed away on 22nd November 2011, at her home near Augsburg, Germany.
Sources:
- Royal Opera House Collections website (accessed 26th November 2011)
- Oxford Music Online (accessed 26th November 2011)
Frances Spiegel - Frances Spiegel, B.A. Hons. (Open)., Dip.Eur.Hum., read Art History/European Modern History at the Open University.
