About Us

Boris entered Ildar’s repertoire relatively recently, in the summer of 2018. Artist believes it is one of the most complicated and “mandatory” pinnacle roles for any of Russian basses (as he shared in one of the interviews: “If the bass has never sang Boris part that would only mean - he sang for nothing all his life!”). He thus started preparations for this cherished role long before the expected debut. His debut as Boris was after collecting an enormous experience behind his shoulders: twenty years of his work endeavors and more than forty roles. His first time as Boris was at the premiere at Opéra national de Paris. This performance promised to become legendary for various reasons: Vladimir Jurowski was a Musical Director of the production and Conductor. He referred to the first version, which is not often performed; Ivo van Hove, famous for his avant-garde productions, was an Artistic Director. Yet it was Abdrazakov specifically who caused sensation in the media and became one of the strongest impressions of performance:

“Ildar Abdrazakov is a Boris of formidable strength, richness and nuance…” (The Financial Times, 14.06.2018)

“Ivo van Hove found in Ildar Abdrazakov an ideal match for this role and for the whole vision of the opera. Russian bass demonstrates an enormous strength and genuine power when it is needed. He has a soft timbre of the voice and impeccable vocal technique (which is sharpened without a doubt thanks to frequent Italian repertoire including belcanto). It lets him bring legato together with colors and nuances of the sound under control of the emotional expressions. What a grief does sound in his voice when in the fifth scene he exclaims “A guilty conscience is a cruel punishment!” What a tenderness with which he is comforting his daughter Ksenia; what an exorbitant sadness is present in the scene of his farewell with Feodor…” (olyrix.com, 08 June 2018).

Monumental, costume and historical production of the Bolshoi Theatre (embodiment of the Soviet “Big Style”) will be the second in the opera career of Ildar Abdrazakov. In August 2020, he sang a part of Boris at Mariinsky Theatre; however, it was a concert performance. This year he will perform this role at the premiere at Opera Monte Carlo.