Soprano Albina Shagimuratova speaking about the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan (16 and 17 July)
– Your most recent engagements include the roles of Lucia, Violetta and the Queen of the Night. You sing at the great opera houses – Covent Garden, the Metropolitan, the Bolshoi and the Bayerische Staatsoper. And now you’re singing as the Swan-Princess, a role you performed at the Stanislavsky Theatre from 2004–2006. Have you missed it?
– Yes, I really have. I sang the role in the opera in 2004 and my partner was Mikhail Vekua as Guidon. I never thought I’d be singing it again after so many years, and at the Mariinsky Theatre and that I’d be partnered by Mikhail again. It all happened thanks to being invited by maestro Gergiev. One year ago we produced a recording of the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, and now it’s a production.
I was amazed by the beauty of the choral scenes and Rimsky-Korsakov’s orchestration when I heard this opera for the first time. I remember that in 2004 I found quite a few difficulties with the role of the Swan-Princess. It’s complex musical language, dense, and at times there’s the powerful orchestra that you have to get over... But now, returning to it after so many years and having gained experience, I find it easy to sing as the Princess.
– Who is the most important person in an opera for you – the stage director, the conductor or your on-stage partner?
– It’s hard to say who’s most important. Although for me personally the conductor is a vital component of any good performance. But my partners on the stage also play a key role. With a good professional singer you get a spark when you’re on-stage and it’s easy to sing with people like that.
– Is there any role that you’ve not yet sung but would really love to sing?
– I really want to sing Marfa in The Tsar’s Bride. I haven’t heard a good performance of that opera for a long time. I dream of singing the title role in Massenet’s Manon and Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. And to perform the entire bel canto repertoire of Bellini and Donizetti. It’s been a long-standing dream of mine to perform the title role in Bellini’s opera Norma.
– Is there any difference between Russian audiences and audiences abroad?
– Audiences are different everywhere, but the Italians are very demanding. They don’t love anyone, even their own Italian singers. Of course, performing mainly in the West, it’s lovely to come back to Russia and sing for my favourite audience.
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