Ildar Abdrazakov Plays Carnegie Hall Tomorrow

Russian-born bass Ildar Abdrazakov makes his U.S. solo recital debut tomorrow, Thursday Jan 29, on the main stage of Carnegie Hall at 8pm. Joined by pianist Mzia Bakhtouridze, the singer will perform a program pairing works by Fauré, Liszt and Ravel with Russian art songs by Glinka, Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky. The New York Times has described Abdrazakov's voice as "sturdy, dark and rich," adding that the "refinement and clarity" of his singing is what ultimately makes it "so moving."

Abdrazakov began his 2014-15 season at the Metropolitan Opera with what the New York Times called a "standout" performance in the title role of Richard Eyre's new, season-opening production of Le nozze di Figaro. The bass's star turn as Mozart's valet was beamed live to cinemas around the world, the first of a pair of back-to-back appearances in the Met's popular Live in HD series. Just weeks later, Abdrazakov was back on the movie screen, with another Live in HD transmission capturing his return to the Met's Carmen as Escamillo opposite Anita Rachvelishvili, who was also his co-star in the company's landmark staging of Prince Igor last season.

This past Friday, Abdrazakov's recent appearance in the Richard Tucker Opera Gala was televised across the U.S. on PBS's Emmy Award-winning series Live From Lincoln Center. It is now available for on-demand viewing on the PBS website.

Following his Carnegie Hall recital, the Ufa native looks forward to another solo appearance, performing at the annual gala of Florida's Palm Beach Opera on February 5, in "Seduction of the Senses: A Gala Evening with Ildar Abdrazakov." Later this season, Abdrazakov takes on the roles of Méphistophélès in Gounod's Faust at the Paris Opera and the Teatro Regio di Torino, and Mustafà in L'Italiana in Algeri at the Vienna State Opera. On the concert stage this spring, he joins the Staatskapelle Dresden under the baton of Christian Thielemann for performances of Verdi's Requiem at the Salzburg Easter Festival, and to kick off the summer season he embarks on a European tour of quartet concerts with Anna Netrebko, Ekaterina Gubanova, and Aleksandrs Antonenko.

Photo Credit: Dario Acosta Photography