Elena Svechnikova graduated from the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts in 1980 (with L. Mikhailov, Prof. Belyavskaya, and Z. Kogan). From 1981, she worked in the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre where she performed the mezzo-soprano parts in the following operas: Rimsky-Korsakov's May Night, Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, The Queen of Spades, Iolanta, and Cherevichki, Shchedrin's Not Only Love, Nikolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor, Mozart's La finta giardiniera, Prokofiev's Love for Three Oranges, Bellini's Il pirata, and others. Elena has been with the Novaya Opera Theatre since its inception in 1991.
The singer has often participated in the “Golden Autumn” and “Russian Winter” musical festivals, in concerts with the symphony orchestra directed by N. Kalinin and the Kremlin Chamber Orchestra directed by M. Rachlevsky. Elena Svechnikova took part in the recording of The Rival Son by Bortnyansky as Albertina (conductor M. Yurovsky),and From Jewish Folk Poetry by Shostakovich (conductor Vladimir Spivakov). She also took part in the Novaya Opera Theatre recordings: Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky (the part of Larina), Romances by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, the divertissement Rossini and Requiem by Verdi (conductor Evgeny Kolobov).
Award and Honours:
- Honoured Artist of Russia
- Prize-winner of international voice competitions in Paris and Moscow
- Diploma winner of the Union of Theatre Workers (Theatre spring prize) for the best work in Gladkov’s production The Eldest Son (Natasha’s part)
- Prize-winner of For Devoted Service to Opera Art Award by the Evgeny Kolobov Foundation
Roles performed at the Novaya Opera:
Lyubasha in Rimsky-Korsakov's The Tsar's Bride
Naina, Ratmir in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila
Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde
Elizabeth in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda
Gertrude in Thomas's Hamlet
Maddalena, Giovanna in Verdi's Rigoletto
Ortrud in Wagner's Lohengrin
Pisana in Verdi's I due Foscari
Santuzza, Lucia in Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana
Zita in Puccini's Gianni Schicchi
Bobylikha, Spring in Rimsky-Korsakov's The Snow Maiden
Innkeeper in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov
Larina in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin
Marta in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta
Nanny in Rubinstein's The Demon
Albine in Massenet's Thais
Berta in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia
Flora in Verdi's La Traviata
Sofia in Verdi's I Lombardi alla prima crociata
Third Lady in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte
Afra in Catalani's La Wally
Dragonfly, Mother, Chinese Cup in Ravel's L’enfant et les sortilèges
She-Goat in Valdgardt's The Cat's House
Princess in Dargomyzhsky's The Mermaid (in concert)
Neighbor in Stravinsky's Mavra
Maria Nikolayevna in Golovin's The First Love
Sorceress in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (in concert)
Mezzo-soprano parts in Mozart's Requiem, in the concerts Viva Verdi!, Music Is My Soul
Parts in the productions: Tribute to Evgeny Kolobov, Romances by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergey Rachmaninov (concert), Bravissimo! (opera mix), Rossini (musical divertissement), This is Opera! (dramatized performance), O Mozart! Mozart… (Requiem)
Discography:
Pyotr Tchaikovsky.Eugene Onegin (DVD) — Larina
Rossini (DVD)
Rossini (CD) — Mezzo-soprano (4, 9, 11, 12)
Romances by Sergey Rachmaninov and Pyotr Tchaikovsky (CD) — Mezzo-soprano (2, 4)
Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Eugene Onegin (CD) — Larina
Classics through Centuries (CD) — Mezzo-soprano (8)
Giuseppe Verdi. Requiem (CD) — Mezzo-soprano
Tribute to Evgeny Kolobov (CD) — Mezzo-soprano
Pietro Mascagni. Cavalleria Rusticana (CD) — Lucia
