Russian operatic mezzo-soprano (born 1996)
Aigul Akhmetshina is a Russian operatic mezzo-soprano .
Early life and education
Akhmetshina was born in 1996 in a small village Kirgiz-Miyaki [ 1] in the Republic of Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation.
In 2016 she graduated from Ufa State Institute of Arts .[ 1]
Though a Russian citizen, she stated in an interview with The Times in 2024 that "I'm not Russian", and expressed a desire to become a British citizen.[ 2]
Her family were amateur singers and encouraged her talent. After being refused the opportunity to study music at a Moscow university, she gained a place on the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House in London.[ 3] [ 4]
Career
On New Year's Eve 2023, Akhmetshina appeared in the title role in Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera . She was described by Zachary Woolfe of the New York Times as "the only truly impressive aspect" of the production.[ 5] In 2024, Akhmetshina appeared in the same opera and role at the Royal Opera House .[ 6]
Recordings
Akhmetshina's first album, titled Aigul , was released on 26 July 2024, on the Decca Classics label.[ 7] It features arias from Carmen , Werther , I Capuleti e i Montecchi , La Cenerentola , The Barber of Seville ; Daniele Rustioni conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra .[ 8] In a five star review in The Guardian , Erica Jeal wrote "Her debut solo recording perfectly showcases the glowing expansiveness, swagger and breathtaking poise of Akhmetshina’s arresting voice".[ 9] The German magazine Oper! [de ] named the album CD of the month in its September issue.[ 10]
Awards
References
^ a b c d "Вернула волшебный голос после аварии: как певица из башкирского села становится звездой оперы в США и Италии" [She got her magical voice back after an accident: how a singer from a Bashkir village becomes an opera star in the US and Italy]. ufa1.ru (in Russian). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024 .
^ Fisher, Neil (31 March 2024). "Aigul Akhmetshina: You can't rehearse Carmen, you live her" . The Times .
^ Barnard, Christopher (22 December 2023). "Meet Aigul Akhmetshina, the Metropolitan Opera's 27-Year-Old Carmen" . Vogue . Retrieved 10 May 2024 .
^ Wright, Steve. "Aigul Akhmetshina: from an isolated village in the Ural Mountains to the Met Opera stage as the youngest ever Carmen" . www.classical-music.com . Retrieved 10 May 2024 .
^ Wolfe, Zachary (1 January 2024). "Review: The Met's New 'Carmen' Trades Castanets for Cutoffs" . The New York Times . Retrieved 10 May 2024 .
^ Paget, Clive (7 April 2024). "Carmen review – Aigul Akhmetshina is electrifying in simmering, naturalistic staging" . The Guardian . Retrieved 10 May 2024 .
^ Elwell, Theo. "Decca Classics signs mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina" . Gramophone . Retrieved 10 May 2024 .
^ "Aigul details" , Presto Music
^ Jeal, Erica (1 August 2024). "Aigul Akhmetshina: Aigul album review – mezzo from Bashkortostan is an insouciant star" . The Guardian . Retrieved 4 August 2024 .
^ Uwe Friedrich (27 August 2024). "Aigul : Arien von Bizet, Massenet, Rossini, Bellini" . Oper! [de ] . Retrieved 26 October 2024 .
^ Лилеев, Дмитрий (29 March 2023). "Премия Сasta Diva: лауреаты 2022" . Музыкальное обозрение (in Russian). Retrieved 7 October 2024 .
^ "Уроженка Башкирии Айгуль Ахметшина стала «Певицей года» премии International Opera Awards 2023" . www.bashinform.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 7 October 2024 .
External links
International National Artists