Yekaterina Semenchuk’s Amneris

The Mariinsky Theatre’s repertoire currently has two different directors’ versions of Verdi’s famous opera – Alexei Stepanyuk’s production at the theatre itself and Daniele Finzi Pasca’s at the Concert Hall.

In 1998 Alexei Stepanyuk staged Aida at the Mariinsky Theatre with revived sets by Pyotr Schildknekht. The production has never lost the freshness of the first performance, while the magnificent sets with Egyptian temples, sphinxes and palm trees act as a balm to the eyes of the audience, well accustomed to the grey skies of St Petersburg.

Mezzo-soprano Yekaterina Semenchuk occupies a well-earned position within the Mariinsky Opera Company as one of the finest singers of her generation, performing at the world’s greatest theatres. This is by no means her first performance as Amneris in St Petersburg. More than once, audiences have seen the singer in Daniele Finzi Pasca’s production at the Concert Hall, while the press has lavished praise on her interpretation of the role: “The most impressive interpretation was that of Yekaterina Semenchuk as Amneris. An incredibly rare voice, jewel-like and utterly unique, full of suffused radiance in the upper range and fateful darkness in the lower, an effortlessly powerful forte and bewitching pianissimo. Expressiveness as a performer which comes from finding and developing every pose and gesture – not formally operatic, though genuine nonetheless. Her partnership is like that in a good drama theatre. She has a true temperament for tragedy – everything together makes one think that the opera’s name should be changed from Aida to Amneris.” (Vedomosti)