Lithuanian Soprano Asmik Grigorian Withdraws from Cleveland Orchestra Concerts

Grigorian has cancelled her performances with the orchestra due to undisclosed personal reasons

According to Carnegie Hall, soprano Asmik Grigorian “must regrettably” cancel her upcoming performances with Franz Welser-Mōst and The Cleveland Orchestra for personal reasons. 

Grigorian was initially scheduled to sing Richard Strauss’ Four Last Songs and the final scene from Puccini’s Suor Angelica with the orchestra. She was also to make a New York appearance on March 18, 2025, in Carnegie Hall. 

A founding member of Vilnius City Opera, Grigorian has recently performed at the Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro Real Madrid, the Salzburger Festspiele, and Teatro alla Scala. 

Among her awards have included the Golden Stage Cross (the highest award for singers in Lithuania), Best Female Lead in 2019 at the Austrian Music Theater Awards, Female Opera Singer of the Year in 2022 by the Ópera XXI Association, and Female Singer of the Year at the Opus Klassik Awards in 2023.  

In 2024, she received the prestigious Österreichischer Musiktheaterpreis in the "Special Jury Prize" category and was named Opernwelt’s Opera Singer of the Year. 

The Cleveland Orchestra has now updated its March 18 program with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Leonore Overture No. 3 in addition to Janáček’s Suite from From the House of the Dead (arr. František Jílek). Their March 19 program will remain the same.

Grigorian will now be joining Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra as soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall next season.

"This program change has given us a chance to say something important about our world today,” said Welser-Möst. “As people fight for freedom everywhere, these pieces tell that same human story. Beethoven's Fifth shows us the journey from darkness to light. Janáček's From the House of the Dead reveals how human dignity survives even in the most desolate of circumstances. And the Leonore Overture is, to me, simply the greatest music about freedom ever written. These works together create a profound statement that I believe will resonate deeply with our audiences in both Cleveland and New York.”