Aigul_Akhmetshina

Aigul Akhmetshina

Aigul Akhmetshina

Russian operatic mezzo-soprano

Aigul Akhmetshina is a Russian operatic mezzo-soprano.

Early life and education

Akhmetshina was raised in a small village in the Republic of Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation. 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.[1] 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.[2][3]

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.[4] In 2024, Akhmetshina appeared in the same opera and role at the Royal Opera House.[5]

Recordings

Akhmetshina's first album, titled Aigul is due to be released on July 26, 2024, on the Decca Classics label.[6]

References

  1. [1]
    Fisher, Neil (31 March 2024). "Aigul Akhmetshina: You can't rehearse Carmen, you live her". The Times.
  2. [2]
    Barnard, Christopher (22 December 2023). "Meet Aigul Akhmetshina, the Metropolitan Opera's 27-Year-Old Carmen". vogue.com. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  3. [3]
    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.
  4. [4]
    Wolfe, Zachary (January 1, 2024). "Review: The Met's New 'Carmen' Trades Castanets for Cutoffs". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  5. [5]
    Paget, Clive (7 April 2024). "Carmen review – Aigul Akhmetshina is electrifying in simmering, naturalistic staging". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  6. [6]
    Elwell, Theo. "Decca Classics signs mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina". www.gramophone.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
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