Colleagues pay tribute to tragic Aga Mikolaj

The world of music has been shocked by the Covid death, aged 51, of the Polish-born soprano Aga Mikolaj.

Conductor Yoel Levi: Oh my God !!!! I cannot believe it !!! She was such a great singer and a great human being…… I will always remember all the wonderful performances that we did together….. RIP

Conductor Daniel Raiskin: I have known Aga for years and was blessed with many opportunities of performing with her.
In the past few days, from the moment that I learned about her illness and admission to the IC unit, I kept hoping that she’ll be getting better soon and refused to believe the worst is possible… The shocking news of her passing today left a bleeding wound in my heart.
Aga was the kindest and modest person, a wonderful musician, most reliable and supportive partner on stage and on tour, consummate professional and, above all, she had a voice of rare beauty and clarity!
I remember all our concerts so well – its easy as each of them was nothing short of a highlight!
Händel and Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss, Szymanowski and Lutoslawski… In three weeks we were supposed to perform Beethoven 9th Symphony together again… Life can be cruel and unfair, but it also beautiful when you come across people line Aga Mikolaj…!
Rest in peace, dear friend…
“O weiter, stiller Friede!
So tief im Abendrot –
wie sind wir wandermüde – ist dies etwa der Tod?”

Soprano Nadine Weissmann: Devastated to hear that amazing soprano Aga Mikolaj passed away from Covid today. Just a few years older than me, we sang a Verdi Requiem together when she jumped in in Weimar a few years back. A lovely colleague and a beautiful musician.

Baritone Bernhard Hansky: I was shaken to learn today of the death of our dear colleague Aga Mikolaj, who unfortunately left us far too soon. With gratitude, I think back to her heartfelt personality and distinctive voice. In “Don Giovanni” I heard her live in 2011 for the first time in Berlin and that was also the opera we sang together at the Semperoper seven years later. She was always the optimal Donna Elvira in my eyes.

Tokyo singer Yasushi Muromachi: I am so shocked to hear the news… She was great Donna Anna and Donna Elvira at our National theater and I really liked her performances and was looking forward to see her again.