Azerbaijan's opera stars to perform in Russia

By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

A concert program "Verdi Gala" will be presented at the Russian State Academic Bolshoi Theater on November 26.

Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Yusif Eyvazov and Russian opera star Anna Netrebko will perform at the concert, Azertag reported.

The world-famous opera singers will delight the audience with virtuoso arias and scenes from  various operas.

Moreover, the list of special guests of the night will include the outstanding American singer, Dolora Zadzhik (mezzo-soprano), and, the lead soloist of the Bolshoi Theater, People's Artist of Azerbaijan Elchin Azizov (baritone).

Yusif Eyvazov grew up in Baku, Azerbaijan, and received his musical education at the Baku Academy of Music. In 1997, he moved to Italy and continued his studies there.

He made a series of important debuts. He starred as Canio in LA Opera's production of Pagliacci conducted by Plácido Domingo, made his first appearances at the Metropolitan Opera and the Vienna State Opera singing Calaf in Turandot, and debuted at both the Paris Opera and the Staatsoper Berlin as Manrico in Il Trovatore.

Yusif Eyvazov performed at the Mariinsky Theater for the first time, in the title role of Otello with Valery Gergiev. His Salzburg Festival debut took place as Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut. On the concert stage he appeared in Parma under the baton of Marco Boemi with a program featuring works by Verdi and Puccini, in concert with Riccardo Muti.

In 2017, he undertook a major concert tour throughout Asia alongside Anna Netrebko.

At the beginning of 2018 Eyvazov performed on the stage of the Bolshoi Theater: in January- Renato de Grieux in "Manon Lescaut" with Anna Netrebko, in February he sang for the first time the part of Herman in the new production of "The Queen of Spades", P.I. Tchaikovsky, and Don Carlo, D. Verdi, in March.

On December 7, Yusif successfully opened the season at La Scala by performing the part of André Chénier in the opera of Umberto Giordano. As a result of the close cooperation with the musical director of the production, Riccardo Chailly, Yusif debut on the Milan stage was named one of his best performances in the last few years by the critics.

Yusif Eyvazov married Anna Netrebko in 2015.

The Russian operatic soprano Anna Netrebko was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation. Time magazine placed her on its Time 100 list in 2007.

She was identified by the journal Musical America as "a genuine superstar for the 21st century" and was named 'Musician of the Year' in 2008.

Netrebko was named the best singer in 2017 at the International Opera Awards in London. In July 2017, Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko took the lead in the list of Russian top-earning musicians, according to Forbes Magazine.

Born in Baku, Elchin Azizov graduated from the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Art with the profession of film director.

In August 2005, he enrolled at the Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University (Salzburg, Richard Miller’s class), from 2006-2007, he studied with Alessandro Misciasci. In 2005-2007, he did a special course at the Opera studio attached to the Baku Academy of Music where he studied under the direction of Azad Aliev.

He performed as Escamillo in Carmen, title role in Eugene Onegin, Ibn-Hakia in Iolanta, Doctor Falke in Die Fledermaus  etc.

Azizov is the winner of the 2nd Prize of The International Opera Singers Contest of Galina Vishnevskaya (2008), and the 4th Prize of The International Opera Singers Contest of Bulbul in Baku (2005).