Young vocal talents, already acclaimed both by the audience and specialists, have emerged in Lithuanian opera during recent years. One of such prospective opera soloists is vocalist Sandra Janušaitė now actively participating in the musical life.
The singer, born 03 05 1974 in Kretinga, has been a soloist of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre since 12 12 2001. In 2004 Sandra Janušaitė was awarded the title of The Hope of Opera of the Year. The young opera singer has already appeared successfully in the United Kingdom and Italy. In 2007 Janušaitė performed with BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Studies:
1) Her road to the world of music started at the Music School for Children in Kretinga where Sandra studied choir singing (with V. Narvilaitė and E. Karkienė, 1989).
2) She continued her music studies at the Stasys Šimkus Higher School of Music in Klaipėda: choir singing and teaching music (with N. Domarkienė and A. Purkienė, 1993).
3) She studied opera singing at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre with Prof. Vlada Mikštaitė, J. Čiurilaitė, Prof. Irena Milkevičiūtė(2001).

Professional Development:
1. Mozarteum of Salzburg (Austria, with Prof. Lilian Sukis, 1999).
2. Master classes at the The Stanislav Moniuszko Academy of Music, Gdansk (Poland, with Prof. Renatta Scotto, 2000)

Opera:
Sandra Janušaitė has created serious roles in operas in a comparatively short time. Critics have positively received her Zinta in Richard Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman in which her partner was famous Johannes von Duisburg. Today the soloist’s repertoire includes: Michaela (Carmen by G. Bizet), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni by W. A. Mozart), Lisa (The Queen of Spades by P. Tschaikovsky), Leonora (The Force of Destiny by G. Verdi), Rachel (La Juive by J. F. Halévy), Tatyana (Evgeny Onegin by P. Tchaikovsky) and Cho-cho-san (Madama Butterfly by G. Puccini), etc. In 2006 S. Janušaitė was invited to perform Mimi’s part in G. Puccini’s opera La Boheme (conductor Gintaras Rinkevičius, director Dalia Ibelhauptaitė, costume designer Juozas Statkevičius): this is an important achievement in the soloist’s career.

This performance (The Flying Dutchman by Richard Wagner) has presented a pleasant surprise: young soloists who performed the main parts, Sandra Janušaitė and Gintaras Liaugminas, have created really impressive and memorable images of the characters. (...) The soloist has painted the image of Zinta in bright colours, intense strokes and majestic forms. The timbre and power of her voice perfectly suited to express Zinta’s resolute dedication and overwhelming love. The singer has used a rich palette of timbres, dynamic contrasts and courageous jumps to reveal these characteristics. S. Janušaitė sings and performs with youthful temperament, as if driven by an extraordinary energy. (…) S. Janušaitė’s singing deserves compliments: it seems that she has no difficulties in this part. The soloist has bravely and decisively overcome difficult dramatic culminations, performed duos in harmony, and particularly impressively, the ballad in Act I, "Traft ihr das Schiff im Meere an".

Živilė Ramoškaitė, “Įsibėgėjęs Skrajojantis olandas” (“The Flying Dutchman Gaining Momentum: A New Generation of Singers in the Production of Richard Wagner’s Opera in Vilnius”), 7 meno dienos, 30 04 2004, no. 612