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During the 1998-99 season, Ms. Kitic made her US debut in the demanding role of
Eboli in Verdi's "Don Carlo", with the Palm Beach Opera, under the baton of Mo.
Guadagno. This inspired a return to that same opera company in season 2000, as
Rosina in "Il Barbiere". The same season also marked Ms. Kitic's debut at the
Carnegie Hall with New York Opera Orchestra, under the baton of Maestra Eve
Queler, as Emilia in Verdi's "Othello". Incidentally, this was for the Carlo
Bergonzi's farewell concert. Collaborating again with Mo. Queler and NYOO has
produced a recording of famous arias for the mezzo-soprano.
2002 saw Ms. Kitic as Carmen in her very successful debut with the Washington,
DC Opera, and critics and audiences praised her performance in the role of
Giulietta in "Les Contes d'Hoffman" with the Los Angeles Opera. During the same
season she again performed with the LA Opera at the "Concert of Passion and
Poetry", conducted by Placido Domingo. The year 2003 began with her debut with
the Opera Pacific as Herodias in Strauss' "Salome", for which opera company she
also performed the Benefit Concert with Placido Domingo, Mo. John De Main and
Opera Pacific Orchestra. Another production of Carmen with Baltimore Opera and
a return to Carnegie Hall as Laura in "La Gioconda", opposite Marcello Giordani
and Aprile Millo, rounded up the season.
In October 2004. Ms. Kitic won unanimous raves performing Carmen with Los
Angeles Opera (opposite Richard Leech) , conducted by Placido Domingo and
Nicola Luisotti. Beethoven's 9th Symphony concert with Pasadena Symphony
Orchestra, followed.
2005. started out with a very successful debut in the role of Dalila in "Samson
and Dalila" with the Opera Pacific. Ms. Kitic has also been proclaimed "Diva of
the Year" from the Opera Pacific Guild in February 2005.
Recent engagements included the role of Meg in Verdi's "Falstaff" with the LA
Opera, under the baton of Kent Nagano (May, June 2005); Emilia in Verdi's
concert version of "Othello" at the Ravinia Festival, conducted by James Conlon
(July 23rd, 2005), debut at the Metropolitan Opera in the title role of Carmen
(October 2005.) and Amneris in Verdi's "Aida" with Opera Pacific (April 2006).
Other Metropolitan engagements include the role of Laura in "La Gioconda"
(October 2006), and role of Helena Bezukhova in "War and Peace" (season
2007/08) conducted by Mo. Valery Gergiev.
Ms. Kitic studies with Metropolitan and Vienna State Opera star Kammersaengerin
Biserka Cvejic. Ms. Kitic also leads popular master classes at Chapman
University and USC Thorton School of Music in Southern California, is often
seen as a judge for the Music Center Spotlight Awards in L.A. and is
enthusiastic donor for several Young Artist Programs in the United States.
The International Jeunesses Musical Competition in Belgrade, Serbia has established a special
prize for "the best young Mezzo-Soprano", under the name of Milena Kitic, which is being
awarded for the third time in 2008.
On April 15th '07. Ms. Kitic becomes a first Inaugural Recipient of the Artist-in-Residence
Award given by The Chapman University College of Performing Arts in Orange, California and
becomes their Adjunct Professor.
From January 2008. Ms. Kitic became a Board member of the Opera Pacific in Costa Mesa.
Ms. Kitic presently resides in Pasadena and Newport Beach, CA with her husband
and son.
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