News

21.06.2017

“We need basses!”

Young opera soloist Alexander Bezrukov has provided a glowing account of himself on our stage this season. His career at the Mikhailovsky Theatre began with a premiere of La Bohème, in which he performed the role of Colline. The artist has since named this as his favourite role. Bezrukov can next be heard in La Bohème on 26 June, at the close of the opera season.

„I was born in Shelekhov, a small town not far from Irkutsk. I successfully graduated from music school, where I studied the violin, and then immediately gave up music; I couldn’t see a future in it for me.“

„Later, when I was studying in the History Faculty at Novosibirsk University, I joined the academic choir there. I finished my degree, began my postgraduate studies and started working; everything in my life was going fine. But I was dreaming of the stage. And then I passed an audition for the choir of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, and got a place at the conservatory at the same time.“

„I combined my studies at the conservatory with work at the theatre. The musical director of the Novosibirsk Theatre at that time was Teodor Currentzis. I was lucky enough to become a member of the New Siberian Singers chamber choir, which he was in the process of putting together. After two years at the Novosibirsk Conservatory, I moved to Moscow and joined the Academy of Choral Art, in the Vocal Faculty. Dmitry Korchak is also a graduate of the academy; he presented me with the Popov Prize for best vocalist when I left there.“

„In 2013 it was suggested to me that I enter the Dvořák Singing Competition in Karlovy Vary, and, much to my surprise, I was awarded first place.“

„During a placement at the Opéra de Monte Carlo I was fortunate enough to work with Ruggero Raimondi himself. After that I was offered a small role as the Englishman in Prokofiev’s opera The Gambler. The musical director of that production was Mikhail Tatarnikov. When I asked him for an audition at the Mikhailovsky Theatre, he said, ‘Of course! We need basses!“

„At the Mikhailovsky Theatre I performed in a premiere of La Bohème as part of the production’s main cast. I sang nine parts in total that season, even though it was already coming to an end. In addition to Colline and Vodnik (the water goblin) in Rusalka, these included Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Dikoj in The Storm, Dr Grenvil in La traviata, Samuel in Un ballo in maschera, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, and the Sacristan in Tosca.“

„In May I sang the part of Figaro in one of the lineups for our premiere of Mozart. The Marriage of Figaro. It was originally planned that I would sing the role of Bartolo, but following my audition it was decided that I should sing Figaro.“

„The new season is opening in September with a premiere of Il barbiere di Siviglia, in which I’ll be singing the part of Don Basilio. I’ll be the second Basilio after Paata Burchuladze. I know that meeting him will prove to be truly inspirational for me. When you start out as a vocalist, it’s his recordings that you listen to as a reference. So you can imagine how nervous I am — just think of the gulf between us! But if you look at it from another perspective, it’s an incredible opportunity to work with somebody of his stature, paying close attention to every note. That’s why I’m anticipating that this production will be something rather special, both for me and for the audience.“