Gabriela Beňačková, born on March 25, 1947, is one of the most celebrated Slovakian artists of all time.

She had a musical upbringing, dedicating her early years to singing, ballet, and the piano. In 1962, she went to study at the Bratislava Conservatory, followed by two years at the Conservatory in Zilina. Then she went to the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava.

In 1969, she became laureate of the Janacek Singing Competition as well as the winner of the Dvorak Competition in Karlovy Vary. In 1970, she became a member of the National Theater of Prague where she had many of her greatest triumphs.

In 1974, she became a soloist at the Vienna State Opera where she appeared almost 150 times throughout her career in 13 different roles. In 1986, she debuted in San Francisco and in 1991 she made her first Met Opera appearance.

At the turn of the century, she lessened her engagements on stage and officially finished her concert tours in 2008, though she would make a comeback in 2012.

In 2017, she was introduced to the National Theater Hall of Fame in Prague and was awarded the Order of the White Double Cross by the Slovak President in 2018.

Other accolades include the 1976 Slate Prize, the National Artist title in 1994, and a Grammy Award in 1994.

Major Roles

While she sang a wide range of repertory, Beňačková’s greatest interpretations are of operas in the Czech language. Her “Rusalka” and “Jenufa” are among the most beloved, with the latter interpretation considered legendary.

Other Janacek operas that became a part of her repertory include “Katya Kabanova,” “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and “The Makropoulos Case.”

Watch and Listen

Here is a performance of the “Song to the Moon.”

And here is the finale to “Jenufa.”