Agunda Kulaeva

Mezzo-Soprano

Principal singer of the Bolshoi Theatre

Biography

Agunda Kulaeva is one of leading mezzo sopranos and a principal singer at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

Future engagements will include among others Marguerite in La Damnation de Faust at Teatro Monumental in Madrid, Marina Mnischek in Boris Godunov at Salzburger Festspiele, mezzo soprano part in both  Tchaikovsky’s Snow Maiden at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Verdi’s Requiem in Moscow (with legendary maestro Placido Domingo, who chose himself all the soloists for this event).

At the beginning of the current season debuted with a great success as Preziosilla in La forza del destino in a new production at Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Her appearances included Carmen at both Deutsche Oper Berlin and Arena di Verona as well as Marguerite in concert performance of La Damnation de Faust at Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin.

In 2014 debuted as Liubasha (Tsar’s Bride) at the Avery Fisher Hall in New York, as well as at the Theater An der Wien, the Cultural Center in  Hon Kong and at Philharmonie 2 (Cité de la Musique) in Paris.

She sang roles of Amneris at the Sofia Opera and Ballet National Theatre (Radames – Kamen Chanev), Carmen and Eboli at the Festival “Varna Summer”.

At the Bolshoi Theatre Agunda Kulaeva sang Eboli (Don Carlo), Konchakovana (Prince Igor), Polina (Queen of Spades), Sonia (War and Piece – with Mstislav Rostropovich and Alexander Vedernikov).

Being a soloists at the New Opera in Moscow she sang Amneris (Aida), Fenena (Nabucco), Zita (Gianni Schicchi), Ratmir (Ruslan and Lyudmila), Konchakovna (Prince Igor), Olga (Onegin), Marfa (Khovanshchina).

She also performed the role of Carmen under the baton of Teodor Kurentsis in 2010.

In concerts Agunda Kulaeva performed Verdi requiem under baton of Xian Zhang, Vladimir Fedoseev and Dmitry Jurovsky,  Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Jan Willem de Vriend, Bach h-moll Missa with Vladimir Fedoseev and Taneev’s cantata “After reading the psalm” with Mikhail Pletnev.

Agunda Kulaeva was the Winner of Boris Christoff international competition in Bulgaria in 2009

Graduated from Vishnevskaya Opera Centre in Moscow and earler from Rostov State Conservatory as both choir conductor and singer.

 

Reviews

“…la Lioubacha de la mezzo Agounda Koulaeva, la révélation de la soirée. Habituée des rôles comme Amneris et Eboli, la chanteuse ukrainienne captive dès son entrée en scène par un magnétisme et une noblesse qui promettent le meilleur. Dès ses premières notes, la magie opère : la voix sonne large et généreuse, l’aigu ample et assuré, le grave sonore et superbement poitriné ; pourtant, le chant sait se faire extrêmement nuancé, jusqu’à des pianissimi impalpables qui peignent un portrait riche et complexe de la maîtresse trahie et ivre de vengeance. On se souviendra longtemps de sa confrontation avec Bomelius ainsi que l’air qui en découle, amer et plein d’une douleur à peine contenue proprement bouleversante. Une incarnation justement récompensée par une grande ovation au rideau final. Et la découverte d’une artiste majeure à nos yeux, qui possède les qualités des très grandes.”

Nicolas Grienenberger

Classiquenews.com