It was a special treat to spend this past Sunday afternoon being enthralled by the talented performance of an Estonian opera singer singing the major role of Antonia in J. Offenbach’s opera “The Tales of Hoffmann”. Hälis Rünk’s performance was moving, sung with great skill and style, and her emotional portrayal brought us through her father placing her in an asylum, the conjuring of the ghost of Antonia’s mother, and the beautiful love affair with Hoffmann. It was all part of a performance by the College of Charleston Opera along with the Charleston Symphony at the Sottile Theatre in Charleston, South Carolina.
Born in Rakvere, Estonian soprano Hälis Rünk is a rising young artist in the world of opera. She graduated from Tallinn Georg Ots Music School (voice) in 2017 and continued her vocal studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she received her Bachelor’s degree. During her 3rd year of study, she was admitted by the Erasmus program to study Italian bel canto in Verona, Italy. She is currently enrolled in the College of Charleston Artist in Residency program in the United States.
She made her operatic debut as Pamina from Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” with the College of Charleston Opera in February 2021 and her professional debut as Lieschen (J. S. Bach “Coffee Cantata”) with the Charleston Opera Theater in 2022. Upcoming performances include a performance with the Charleston Opera Theater – Grande Serenata on March 17 at the Sottile Theatre and a Carnegie Young Person’s concert with the Charleston Symphony on March 30th & 31st at the Gaillard Performance Hall in Charleston.
Ann Peets
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