Sergei Leiferkus to perform in Rachmaninoff operas

6 April

The Russian baritone Sergei Leiferkus is a welcome guest at the best opera houses, and audiences all over the world appreciate his wonderful voice and outstanding acting talent. His celebrated career began in Leningrad at the Maly Opera Theatre. Now, at the height of his fame and mastery, the People’s Artist of Russia is returning to his home theatre to celebrate his seventieth birthday. In a single evening, he will perform the main roles in three one-act operas by Sergei Rachmaninoff: Aleko, The Miserly Knight, and Francesca da Rimini.

This operatic triptych was performed last summer at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, with Mikhail Tatarnikov as the musical director and conductor. European opera critics were lavish in their praise, describing the programme as «brilliant» and «magical», and acclaiming the «superlative harmony between the singers and the orchestra» and the «power, intimacy, and balance of the Slavic voices.» In Brussels, Mr. Leiferkus played the role of the Baron in The Miserly Knight. «With his deep baritone, like the splendour of imperial fabric, he embodies with his ample range a frenzy of avarice made of flesh and bones», enthused one reviewer (http://www.forumopera.com). «Sergei Leiferkus was superb as the Baron», wrote another. «His performance of the miser’s great monologue, in a voice that seems to drool over his wealth, may be regarded as a benchmark» (http://http://www.diapasonmag.fr).

At the Mikhailovsky Theatre, Mr. Leiferkus will demonstrate the full range of his abilities, playing the title role in Aleko and Lanciotto Malatesta in Francesca da Rimini. The evening will also feature Mikhailovsky Theatre soloists and guest performers, including Tatiana Ryaguzova, Olesya Petrova, Anna Nechaeva, Dmitry Golovnin, Sergei Semishkur, Dmitry Skorikov, Boris Stepanov, Mikhail Gavrilov, Damir Zakirov, and Alexander Borodin. Mikhail Tatarnikov will be on the podium.