Moscow Musical Theatre Helikon-Opera · Stravinsky Hall
Prince Igor
A. P. Borodin · Khan Konchak
Premiere run
Events
Upcoming performances
Vologda · Gavrilin Philharmonic Hall
Great Classics of the Russian Land
Vocal music concert · project author — Irina Volkova
Melody of My Russia project
Tickets: Moscow Musical Theatre Helikon-Opera — helikon.ru · Vologda Philharmonic — volfilarmonia.ru
Biography
A voice for the stage and the recital hall
Mikhail Guzhov is a vivid representative of the Russian bass school: a powerful, distinctive timbre, brilliant vocal technique, and compelling stagecraft. Born in Moscow, he graduated in 1995 from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in the class of People's Artist of Russia, Professor A. A. Loshak.
While still a second-year student, in 1992 he was invited as a soloist to the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theatre (until 1998), singing Farlaf, Gremin, Colline, and other roles. From 1998 he was a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia (about 30 roles in 23 productions) and began collaborating with the Moscow Musical Theatre Helikon-Opera, where he has prepared more than 25 leading parts.
His repertoire comprises about 60 opera roles: Boris Godunov, Konchak, Tsar Dodon, Kochubey, Zaccaria, Don Basilio, and many others. He is regularly invited to theatres in Yekaterinburg, Saratov, Samara, Kazan, Omsk, and Astrakhan, and has toured France, Austria, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, China, and beyond.
He has collaborated with E. Svetlanov, V. Fedoseyev, Dm. Kitaenko, M. Pletnev, G. Rozhdestvensky, and M. Ermler. A long-standing partnership with the State Symphony Capella of Russia under Valery Polyansky has brought concert performances of rarely heard operas and major cantata-oratorio works. In 2014 he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Career
Stages that shaped the voice
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Born in Moscow
The beginning of a path that would lead to Russia's leading opera stages.
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Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre
Company soloist while still studying at the Conservatory. Roles included Farlaf, Colline, de Silva, and Lodovico.
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Graduates from the Moscow Conservatory
Class of Professor A. A. Loshak. Conservatory Opera Studio.
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International competitions
Feodor Chaliapin Prize (Rachmaninoff Competition). Laureate of the Rimsky-Korsakov Competition in St. Petersburg.
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Bolshoi Theatre of Russia
Opera company soloist. Varlaam, the Pharaoh, the Viking Guest, Surin, and other roles from Russian and world classics.
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Moscow Musical Theatre Helikon-Opera
Company member since 2005. Boris Godunov, Konchak, Tsar Dodon, Zaccaria, Don Basilio, and dozens of other roles.
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Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
An honorary title for contribution to Russian musical theatre.
Repertoire
About sixty opera roles
Russian and world classics on the stages of the Moscow Musical Theatre Helikon-Opera, the Bolshoi Theatre, and leading houses across the country.
Farlaf
Ruslan and Lyudmila · M. Glinka
Stanislavskyde Silva
Ernani · G. Verdi
StanislavskyLodovico
Otello · G. Verdi
StanislavskyColline
La Bohème · G. Puccini
StanislavskySurin
The Queen of Spades · P. Tchaikovsky
StanislavskyBertrand
Iolanta · P. Tchaikovsky
StanislavskySkomorokh
The Tale of Tsar Saltan · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
StanislavskyBoris Godunov
«Boris Godunov» · M. Mussorgsky
Helikon-OperaKhan Konchak
Prince Igor · A. Borodin
Helikon-OperaSobakin / Malyuta Skuratov
The Tsar's Bride · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Helikon-OperaTsar Dodon
The Golden Cockerel · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Helikon-OperaMetropolitan Filaret
Doctor Haaz · A. Sergunin
Helikon-OperaKochubey
Mazeppa · P. Tchaikovsky
Helikon-OperaGremin
Eugene Onegin · P. Tchaikovsky
Helikon-OperaStrafocamil
Vampuka · V. Ehrenberg
Helikon-OperaPriest / Old Convict
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk · D. Shostakovich
Helikon-OperaCook
The Love for Three Oranges · S. Prokofiev
Helikon-OperaCount Nikita Panin
The Tsarina · D. Tukhmanov
Helikon-OperaDoctor Bartolo
The Marriage of Figaro · W. A. Mozart
Helikon-OperaPublio
La Clemenza di Tito · W. A. Mozart
Helikon-OperaDon Basilio
The Barber of Seville · G. Rossini
Helikon-OperaZaccaria
Nabucco · G. Verdi
Helikon-OperaBanquo
Macbeth · G. Verdi
Helikon-OperaRamfis / Pharaoh
Aida · G. Verdi
Helikon-OperaZuniga
Carmen · G. Bizet
Helikon-OperaValitsyn
Siberia · U. Giordano
Helikon-OperaLindorf
The Tales of Hoffmann · J. Offenbach
Helikon-OperaCalchas
La Belle Hélène · J. Offenbach
Helikon-OperaBrighella
Das Liebesverbot · R. Wagner
Helikon-OperaViking Guest
Sadko · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Helikon-OperaWater Sprite
Rusalka · A. Dvořák
Helikon-OperaOld Man, Zemfira's father
Aleko · S. Rachmaninoff
Helikon-OperaKing René
Iolanta · P. Tchaikovsky
Helikon-OperaDoctor Grenvil
La Traviata · G. Verdi
Helikon-OperaBenoît / Alcindoro
La Bohème · G. Puccini
Helikon-OperaChub
Cherevichki · P. Tchaikovsky
Helikon-OperaUncle Yakuside
Madama Butterfly · G. Puccini
Helikon-OperaTrulove
The Rake's Progress · I. Stravinsky
Helikon-OperaVarlaam
«Boris Godunov» · M. Mussorgsky
Bolshoi TheatrePrince Vyazemsky
The Maid of Pskov · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Bolshoi TheatreBermyata
The Snow Maiden · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Bolshoi TheatrePolkan
The Golden Cockerel · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Bolshoi TheatreMalyuta Skuratov
The Tsar's Bride · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Bolshoi TheatreViking Guest
Sadko · N. Rimsky-Korsakov
Bolshoi TheatreZaretsky
Eugene Onegin · P. Tchaikovsky
Bolshoi TheatreSurin
The Queen of Spades · P. Tchaikovsky
Bolshoi TheatreBertrand
Iolanta · P. Tchaikovsky
Bolshoi TheatreMolchan
The Oprichnik · P. Tchaikovsky
Bolshoi TheatreHerald
The Love for Three Oranges · S. Prokofiev
Bolshoi TheatrePotapych
The Gambler · S. Prokofiev
Bolshoi TheatreMarquis of Calatrava
La Forza del Destino · G. Verdi
Bolshoi TheatreBaron
La Traviata · G. Verdi
Bolshoi TheatreHigh Priest
Nabucco · G. Verdi
Bolshoi TheatrePharaoh
Aida · G. Verdi
Bolshoi TheatreMandarin
Turandot · G. Puccini
Bolshoi TheatreBoris Godunov
«Boris Godunov» · M. Mussorgsky
Nizhny Novgorod, Cheboksary, Astrakhan, SamaraThe Miller
Rusalka · A. Dargomyzhsky
SaratovPimen
«Boris Godunov» · M. Mussorgsky
KazanGalitsky
Prince Igor · A. Borodin
SamaraKing René
Iolanta · P. Tchaikovsky
YekaterinburgGrand Inquisitor
Don Carlos · G. Verdi
AstanaDosifei
Khovanshchina · M. Mussorgsky
RostovMasetto
Don Giovanni · W. A. Mozart
Moscow Conservatory Opera StudioKutuzov
War and Peace · S. Prokofiev
State Capella · PolyanskyCherevik
Sorochyntsi Fair · M. Mussorgsky
State CapellaKing Philip
Don Carlos · G. Verdi
State CapellaCardinal
Gesualdo · A. Schnittke
State CapellaBaron
The Miserly Knight · S. Rachmaninoff
State CapellaMetropolitan Cyprian
The Dream of Tamerlane · A. Tchaikovsky
world premiereAgamemnon
Oresteia · S. Taneyev
RNO · PletnevAleko / Old Gypsy
Aleko · S. Rachmaninoff
Omsk PhilharmonicConcert and chamber repertoire
Solo parts in cantata-oratorio works: Weber's Mass in E-flat major, Rossini's Petite messe solennelle, Handel's Messiah, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Bruckner's Mass No. 1, Dvořák's Requiem and Stabat Mater, Shostakovich's Symphonies Nos. 13 and 14, and Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev)'s Christmas Oratorio.
First performance of the vocal poem Departing Russia by Georgy Sviridov (December 2009, Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory) with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra under Vladimir Fedoseyev. Chamber cycles by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Taneyev, as well as songs from Schubert's Winterreise.
Awards
Recognition from stage and jury
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2014
Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
An honorary title for contribution to Russian musical theatre.
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2007
National Treasure gold medal
International charitable foundation Patrons of the Century.
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2005
Irina Arkhipova Foundation Prize
Bronze medal of the foundation of the outstanding Russian singer.
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1998
Laureate of the Rimsky-Korsakov Competition
3rd International Competition for Young Opera Singers, St. Petersburg.
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1997
Feodor Chaliapin Prize
2nd International Rachmaninoff Competition, Moscow.
Collaborations
Conductors and stages
Work with leading Russian and international conductors, and appearances in European premieres directed by Dmitry Bertman.
- E. Svetlanov
- V. Fedoseyev
- D. Kitaenko
- M. Pletnev
- G. Rozhdestvensky
- T. Currentzis
- V. Polyansky
- Y. Simonov
- K. Tikhonov
- V. Ponkin
- A. Anisimov
- M. Ermler
- M. Fedotov
- N. Nekrasov
- N. Kalinin
Premiere productions of Aida at the Strasbourg Festival and Nabucco in Dijon and Paris with Maria Guleghina (directed by Dmitry Bertman). Russian music concerts in Germany with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. Appearances at the Moscow International House of Music with Ferruccio Furlanetto and Sylvia Valayre.
Guest soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre, the Mikhailovsky Theatre, and opera houses in Yekaterinburg, Saratov, Samara, Kazan, Omsk, and Astrakhan.
Discography
CD and DVD recordings
Moscow, Cheryomushki
D. Shostakovich · operetta
War and Peace
S. Prokofiev · opera
The Miserly Knight
S. Rachmaninoff · opera
Sorochyntsi Fair
M. Mussorgsky · opera
Mass No. 1
A. Bruckner
La Clemenza di Tito
W. A. Mozart · opera
Nabucco
G. Verdi · opera
Listen
M. Glinka — Confession
Recorded at Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. Performed by Honored Artist of Russia Mikhail Guzhov.
Video on RuTube — available in Russia without a VPN.
Contact
Stage, touring, voice teaching
For concerts and touring inquiries, contact the concert agent. Mikhail Guzhov also offers private coaching in classical and opera voice. Performance schedules are listed on the Moscow Musical Theatre Helikon-Opera website.