Winner of the YEHUDI MENUHIN Foundation, IRENE KUDELA is pianist, vocal and language coach specialized in Russian, Czech, and French repertoire.
Born in Yugoslavia, with french, russian and czech origins, IRENE KUDELA begins her musical studies in Prag, (Czech Republic) and is graduate from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. She is from 1980 until 1994 teaching at the same Conservatoire.
Fluent in seven languages, Irene Kudela is regularly invited in main Opera houses (Paris, Washington, Philadelphia, Roma, München, Bruxelles, Gothenburg…) and Festivals (Salzburg, Aix en Provence, Glyndebourne, Savonlinna, Bregenz.) as a Music and Language coach and Assistant. Specialist of JANÁČEK’s operas, numerous conductors and singers ask her support when preparing these operas.
After being MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVITCH’s assistant for several years , Irene Kudela is asked by PIERRE BOULEZ, Myung-Whun Chung, Charles Mackerras, Evelino Pidó, Jiří Bělohlávek, Guennadi Rojdestvensk.
She is CHORUS MASTER, invited at the PARIS OPERA, the THÉÂTRE DES CHAMPS ELYSEES, and RADIO- FRANCE since 1999. Irene Kudela is also performing as a CONCERT PIANIST, in Paris, Tokyo Moscow, London, Beograd, Helsinki, Orange, Aix en Provence.
She accompanied singers like BARBARA HENDRICKS, CAMILLE MAURANE, GALINA VISCHNIEVSKAYA ALAIN VANZO, KARINE DESHAYES.
Irene Kudela has recorded a DARIUS MILHAUDrecital with JEAN-FRANÇOIS GARDEIL. She has been ARTISTIC DIRECTOR for Erato, Hungaroton, Teldec, Emi.
She is giving numerous MASTERCLASSES for singers and pianists, particularly at the ACADEMIE DE L’OPERA DE PARIS, the NATIONAL OPERA STUDIO from LONDON, the BOLSHOI from MOSCOW, the FONDATION ROYAUMONT, and in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Bonn.
She contributes to the formation of young generation singers, like FLORIAN SEMPEY, JUSTINA GRINGYTE, AUDE EXTREMO, ELENA TSALLAGOVA, ANGELA BROWER, LAURA TATULESCU, STANISLAS DE BARBEYRAC, DAVID BIŽIČ, MARIANNE CREBASSA.
Irene Kudela has also given lectures about Janáček, has translated czech operas into french. She has also been Musical Advisor for several movies, and worked on theatrical adaptations with actors.
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