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Aigul Akhmetshina

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Aigul Akhmetshina is a Russian operatic mezzo-soprano.

Early life and education

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Akhmetshina was born in 1996 in a small village Kirgiz-Miyaki[1] in the Republic of Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation.

In 2016 she graduated from Ufa State Institute of Arts.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3][4]

Career

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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.[5] In 2024, Akhmetshina appeared in the same opera and role at the Royal Opera House.[6]

Recordings

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Akhmetshina's first album, titled Aigul, was released on 26 July 2024, on the Decca Classics label.[7] It features arias from Carmen, Werther, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, La Cenerentola, The Barber of Seville; Daniele Rustioni conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[8] In a five star review in The Guardian, Erica Jeal wrote "Her debut solo recording perfectly showcases the glowing expansiveness, swagger and breathtaking poise of Akhmetshina’s arresting voice".[9] The German magazine Oper! [de] named the album CD of the month in its September issue.[10]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Вернула волшебный голос после аварии: как певица из башкирского села становится звездой оперы в США и Италии" [She got her magical voice back after an accident: how a singer from a Bashkir village becomes an opera star in the US and Italy]. ufa1.ru (in Russian). 26 May 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ Fisher, Neil (31 March 2024). "Aigul Akhmetshina: You can't rehearse Carmen, you live her". The Times.
  3. ^ Barnard, Christopher (22 December 2023). "Meet Aigul Akhmetshina, the Metropolitan Opera's 27-Year-Old Carmen". Vogue. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Wolfe, Zachary (1 January 2024). "Review: The Met's New 'Carmen' Trades Castanets for Cutoffs". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  6. ^ Paget, Clive (7 April 2024). "Carmen review – Aigul Akhmetshina is electrifying in simmering, naturalistic staging". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  7. ^ Elwell, Theo. "Decca Classics signs mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina". Gramophone. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Aigul details", Presto Music
  9. ^ Jeal, Erica (1 August 2024). "Aigul Akhmetshina: Aigul album review – mezzo from Bashkortostan is an insouciant star". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  10. ^ Uwe Friedrich (27 August 2024). "Aigul: Arien von Bizet, Massenet, Rossini, Bellini". Oper! [de]. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  11. ^ Лилеев, Дмитрий (29 March 2023). "Премия Сasta Diva: лауреаты 2022". Музыкальное обозрение (in Russian). Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Уроженка Башкирии Айгуль Ахметшина стала «Певицей года» премии International Opera Awards 2023". www.bashinform.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 7 October 2024.
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