Darija Auguštan, born in Zagreb in 1996, is a distinguished Croatian soprano who has made a significant mark on the opera and concert stages both at home and abroad. She completed her studies in solo singing at the Music Academy in Zagreb under the tutelage of Professor Snježana Bujanović-Stanislav.
Despite her young age, Darija boasts an impressive array of leading roles in operas and operettas, including Violetta, Musetta, Magda de Civry, Lauretta, Micaela, Pamina, Fiordiligi, Sifare, Adele, Countess Maritza and the Cunning Little Vixen. Her versatility and talent shine through in both opera and concert performances.
She was a member of the Giorgio Surian Opera Studio at the Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Rijeka and received scholarships from the esteemed artist Mirjana Bohanec Vidović and the Belcanto Foundation. Darija made her debut at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in 2019 as the First Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute. In 2020, she debuted at HNK Ivana pl. Zajca in Rijeka as Micaela in Bizet's Carmen, solidifying her presence on the Croatian music scene. Since 2022, she has been a member of the soloist opera ensemble at HNK in Zagreb.
Darija has performed with the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, and Choir, among many other domestic and international ensembles. She regularly gives solo recitals, often accompanied by pianists such as Dora Iveković and Danijel Gašparović.
Her talent has been recognized with numerous awards at national and international competitions, including the Marijana Radev award for the role of Fiordiligi, the Croatian Theatre Award, the Ivo Vuljević Award, the Sarah Bernhardt Award, the Young Musician of the Year 2021, and prizes from competitions like Virgilijus Noreika, Zinka Milanov, Stanislaw Moniuszko, Tomas Kuti, Mikulaš Trnavsky, Mario Orlandoni, Tullio Serafin, and Boris Papandopulo.
In 2021, Darija made her Italian debut at the historic Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, performing the role of Sifare in Mozart's Mitridate, re di Ponto. By 2023, she was captivating audiences at Teatro Verdi in Trieste as Pamina in The Magic Flute and in 2024 in Bologna as Lauretta, she just debuted as Violetta in France and Lithuania. Upcoming roles include Antoni in Düsseldorf and Musetta, Fiordiligi and Violetta in Zagreb. Her international career has seen her perform in Italy, Lithuania, Austria, Slovakia, Estonia, Poland, France, Germany and beyond.
Darija has also collaborated with renowned musicians such as Pier Giorgio Morandi, Marcello Mottadelli, Beatrice Venezi, Valentin Egel, Ivan Repušić, Giampaolo Bisanti, Roberto Abbado, Antonello Allemandi, Plácido Domingo and Vittorio Grigolo, highlighting her status as a rising star in the world of opera.
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Photo (c) Simona Svalina
