An Evening with Ildar Abdrazakov

…a bass of elegance and unforced resonance.” – The New York Times

Ildar Abdrazakov, “…a bass of elegance and unforced resonance” ( New York Times), has established himself as one of opera’s most sought-after basses since making his La Scala debut in 2001 at age 25. The Russian singer became a mainstay at leading houses worldwide, including New York’s Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and Munich’s Bavarian State Opera. His powerful yet refined voice, coupled with his compelling stage presence, have prompted critics to hail him as a “sensational bass…who has just about everything – imposing sound, beautiful legato, oodles of finesse” (The Independent).

After making his Mostly Mozart Festival debut in Beethoven’s Ninth with Gianandrea Noseda this summer in New York, Ildar Abdrazakov kicks off his 2014-15 season at the Metropolitan Opera, in the title role of Richard Eyre’s new season-opening production of Le nozze di Figaro, with James Levine on the podium. Following his run as Figaro, Abdrazakov swaps his valet’s cloak for a toreador’s cape, remaining at the Met for two performances as Escamillo in Carmen opposite Anita Rachvelishvili, his Met co-star in last season’s Prince Igor. Notable past productions include Abdrazakov’s role debut as Henry VIII opposite Anna Netrebko in Anna Bolena, opening the company’s 2011-12 season; Dosifey in Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina; and the title role in a new production of Verdi’s Attila under the baton of his longtime mentor, Riccardo Muti. In its review of his Prince Igor at the Met last season, the New York Times praised the “compelling bass,” noting that “solid and ruggedly handsome, Mr. Abdrazakov is a confident actor. Though his voice is firm and robust, he is not one of those formidable, gravelly Russian basses. He is a fine singer of Italian repertory, and his Igor has moments of Italianate lyrical refinement.” He recorded Igor’s famous Act II aria for his debut solo album, Power Players: Russian Arias for Bass, which was released by Delos earlier this year, and a DVD and Blu-ray of the Met production of Prince Igor will be released by Deutsche Grammophon later this month.

Performers:
Ildar Abdrazakov, Bass-Baritone
Mzia Bakhtouridze, Piano