Aigul Akhmetshina & The Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra

On April 6, 2021, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory will host a solo concert by international opera star Aigul Akhmetshina, accompanied by the State Chamber Orchestra “Moscow Virtuosi.” One of the major opera sensations of recent years, the youngest soloist of the renowned Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and a remarkable coloratura mezzo-soprano, Aigul Akhmetshina will perform at this venue for the first time.

Her deep, velvety timbre immediately captures the audience’s attention, while the playful virtuosity with which she performs some of the most demanding opera arias ultimately wins over even the most discerning listeners. Aigul is a laureate of numerous international vocal competitions and a guest star at leading opera houses around the world. She became the first twenty-year-old singer ever accepted for an internship at London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, at a time when the theatre’s program was intended for performers over the age of 25.

The 2020–2021 season included scheduled performances at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona and the Royal Theatre in Madrid (Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony), the Zurich Opera House (the role of Rosina in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville), the Deutsche Oper Berlin (the roles of Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen and Fenena in Verdi’s Nabucco), as well as the New National Theatre Tokyo (Die Fledermaus by Strauss, the role of Prince Orlofsky). The opera singer appears in Moscow very rarely, and her performances the previous year at the “T Festival” and the “Vladimir Spivakov Invites” festival became some of the most memorable events of the musical season.

The State Chamber Orchestra “Moscow Virtuosi” is one of the most sought-after musical ensembles today. Founded in 1979 by virtuoso violinist Vladimir Spivakov, the orchestra brought together some of the finest musicians in the Russian capital. The ensemble continues its demanding yet joyful creative work, maintaining the highest standards of performance and living up to its ambitious name, “Moscow Virtuosi.” Each musician is a remarkable individual, while together they form a world-class ensemble.

The concert will be conducted by one of Russia’s and the world’s most renowned musicians, Fabio Mastrangelo. A recipient of the Order of the Star of Italy and laureate of the Mario Gusella International Conducting Competition, Maestro Mastrangelo has served as Principal Conductor of the Russian Philharmonic Moscow Symphony Orchestra since 2018, having begun his collaboration with the ensemble more than a decade ago.