Mikhail Petrenko is a modern Chaliapin

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Connoisseurs and connoisseurs of opera and classical music are well aware of the name of Mikhail Petrenko. Avid theater-goers, critics, the vast majority of spectators enthusiastically speak of his performances. They say that the performance with his participation is a real holiday, and solo concerts, which, by the way, happen quite rarely, are just happiness for a music lover!

Childhood and adolescence

Mikhail Petrenko was born and studied in St. Petersburg. He sang from early childhood, but the road to success and worldwide fame was long and thorny. It did not immediately appear that chic velvet bass, which is now awarded with the epithets “golden”, “brilliant”, “roaring”, “deep”, “exciting”, “rich” … But the talent of an opera performer, vocalist was noticed back in music school. Then he studied hard at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, honed his technique, mastered his skills at the academy, which trains young singers to work at the Mariinsky Theater. And here is the first performance. Prokofiev, Semyon Kotko. As Mikhail himself later recalled, he was terribly worried. Straight kneestrembled. But for him, excitement to this day is divided into two categories: excitement-rise and excitement-panic. The main thing is not to let yourself slip into a panic. In 1998, the young vocalist was enrolled in the troupe, he became a soloist of the Mariinsky Theater.

The road to glory is a glorious road

Almost twenty years have passed since then, and events, meetings, concerts - enough for two centuries! More than twenty roles performed only in their own theater! Of these, the famous Mephistopheles from "Faust", King Mark and the king of Egypt, Philip II from "Don Carlos" and many, many others. Positive or negative characters - it doesn't matter! The deep, lively and sensual bass of Mikhail Petrenko makes the heart beat faster, empathize with what is happening on the stage, sympathize even with a negative character! In an interview, the singer admitted that success on stage consists not only of vocal talent. You also need acting skills plus the charisma of the actor's personality. In each performance, you need to bring emotions to the viewer, give all the best with your soul.

In 2004, opera bass Mikhail Petrenko gains popularity abroad. He is invited to perform at the Berlin Opera (Valkyrie), where the wonderful bass in the part of Hunding did not go unnoticed. There are offers from Paris, New York, Milan, London, invitations to the Bavarian State Opera and many other prestigious places.

The film "Juan", based on the famous "Don Giovanni" by Mozart, where he played the role of Leporello, speaks about the extraordinary talent of the popular artist. The tape was shown for the first time in October2010 and received rave reviews from film critics and art lovers.

One on one with the listener

In addition to performances in the theater, Mikhail Petrenko gives solo concerts, working closely with the Honored Artist of Russia Marina Mishuk, who is his permanent accompanist.

Solo performances of the famous bass are quite rare. “I would like to meet with listeners more often. Making a solo program is much more difficult, and it takes more time to prepare. No comrades on stage, no support. But it's worth it,” Mikhail says.

For example, the concert solo program with romances by Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, dedicated to the Chernobyl tragedy, held on April 26, 2011 in Moscow, caused a great resonance among connoisseurs of cultural heritage. The performer's repertoire is vast and very diverse in subject matter. From almost childish "My Little Liza is very sweet" by P. Tchaikovsky to the most complex and very serious works, such as L. Beethoven's 9th symphony, arranged for voice. And Shostakovich's 13th symphony "Babi Yar", called "vocal confession", caused the brightest storm of emotions among the listeners.

The singer brilliantly presents the works of M. Glinka, although he himself once noted that Glinka is not easy to perform in terms of technique, there are no pauses for rest in his music. Although Mikhail spoke about the party in Ruslan, it can be argued that this is one of the distinguishing features of M. Glinka's vocal style. Filling the works with emotions, sometimes violent drama, sometimes subtle lyricism, demonstratingamazing vocal technique, M. Petrenko brings unique performance to the famous melodies. Maybe that's why he was given the honor of playing Ruslan at the opening of the historical stage of the Bolshoi Theater after restoration in November 2011.

Competition is a step towards recognition

A story about an original talented opera singer Petrenko would be incomplete without mentioning various vocal competitions and festivals with his participation. Competitions by Placido Domingo and Elena Obraztsova, competitions named after Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, Maria Callas, and opera festivals with his participation simply cannot be counted! As Mikhail himself admits in an interview, he did not become a winner in any competition. Unfortunately. Indeed, without any doubt, worthy. Each time, a trifle interfered - that notorious excitement, which "sometimes becomes a panic, and not an upsurge." But every time he became a laureate! Now Michael performs in a new role. In June 2015, he became one of the jury members of the P. Tchaikovsky Vocal Competition.