Ildar Abdrazakov to Make American Solo Recital Debut at Carnegie Hall in January

It has just been announced that Ildar Abdrazakov - "one of the most sought-after young basses in the operatic world" (Vanity Fair) - will make his American solo recital debut on January 29, on the main stage of New York's Carnegie Hall. Joined by pianist Mzia Bakhtouridze, the Russian bass will sing a program that juxtaposes works by Fauré, Liszt, and Ravel with highlights from the golden age of Russian opera, by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Mussorgsky. Abdrazakov's way with the iconic bass arias that are the hallmark of his homeland's operatic heritage may be heard on his debut solo album for Delos, Power Players: Russian Arias for Bass, on which, as Gramophone notes, he succeeds in "keeping his silken voice weighty and penetrating or light and buoyant - whatever the dramatic moment demands."

The Russian bass recently opened the Metropolitan Opera season with a "standout" (New York Times) performance in the title role of Richard Eyre's new production of The Marriage of Figaro. In the first of a pair of back-to-back appearances in the Met's celebrated Live in HD series, earlier this month his star turn as Mozart's valet was beamed live to cinemas around the world. Now, just weeks later, Abdrazakov is already back on the movie screen. Tomorrow's Live in HD transmission (Sat, Nov 1) captures 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. They previously appeared together in the same Met Carmen in February of last year, when their performance was broadcast live over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera Radio Network, and Abdrazakov made his house role debut as Bizet's toreador during the Met's 2004-05 season.

Following his Stern Auditorium recital, the Russian bass looks forward to making another solo appearance, gracing the annual gala of Florida's Palm Beach Opera on February 5, in "Seduction of the Senses: A Gala Evening with Ildar Abdrazakov."

Meanwhile, further details of his upcoming engagements are provided below, and more information is available at his web site, ildarabdrazakov.com.

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