Albina Shagimuratova

Soprano — Violetta Valéry (role debut)

HGO Appearances: Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor (2011), Gilda in Rigoletto (2009), The Refuge (2008, 2007), Musetta in La bohème (2008), Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute (2008), Sandman/Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel (2007, 2006), Frantik in The Cunning Little Vixen (2007). Studio artist (2006 – 08).

About the Artist: Shagimuratova first came to international attention as the winner of the Gold Medal in the 2007 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. She made her European operatic debut as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Salzburg Festival in August 2008 under the baton of Riccardo Muti. Today’s reigning Queen of the Night, Shagimuratova makes her San Francisco Opera debut in Die Zauberflöte during the 2011 – 12 season. She also performs her signature role in concert at the Lucerne Festival under the baton of Daniel Harding, and in productions at the Wiener Staatsoper and the Gran Teatro del Liceu. At Wiener Staatsoper this season, she makes her role debut as Adina in Otto Schenk’s production of L’Elisir d’amore, sings Musetta in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of La bohème, and appears in recital. In addition to this role debut at Houston Grand Opera, she returns to the Bolshoi Opera in Ruslan and Ludmilla conducted by Vladimir Jurowski. Shagimuratova was born in Tashkent, USSR, and began her musical studies as a pianist. She attended the Music College Auhadeez in Kazan, received a degree in vocal and opera performance from Kazan State University, and later studied at the Moscow Conservatory. Graduating with honors, she completed her doctoral work there in 2007.