Mikhail Svetlov
Bass
American-Russian Bass Mikhail Svetlov studied piano, choral conducting and voice at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Winner of the Viotti International Music Competition, he made his international debut at Wexford Festival Opera, and has since performed at many leading houses internationally.
Mikhail Svetlov | Il Cieco | Iris
Aled Hall & Mikhail Svetlov | Flaminio & Archibaldo | L’amore dei tre Re
Mikhail Svetlov | Working on the role of Varlaam | Boris Godunov | Mussorgsky | San Diego Opera
Known for the unique range, beauty, and penetrating dark timbre of his voice, as well as his outstanding acting ability, Mr.Svetlov’s early career saw him work as a company principal at the Bolshoi Theatre, where his roles included the Gremin Eugene Onegin, title role in Boris Godunov, Saltan The tale of Tsar Saltan, Mephistopheles Faust, Zaccaria Nabucco, Ferrando Il Trovatore, Sobakin The Tsar’s Bride, Dodon Le coq d’Or, Dosifey Khovanshchina, King René Iolanta, Mendoza Betrothal in a Monastery, Galitsky Prince Igor, and the Gusli player The Legend of the invisible city of Kitezh.
His highlights include Police Inspector Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Royal Opera House); Zaccaria Nabucco (Bregenz Festspiele; Theater Erfurt); Lorenz in the U.S première of Mathis der Maler, Don Basilio Il barbiere di Siviglia, Banquo Macbeth and Commendatore Don Giovanni (New York City Opera); Mephistopheles Faust (Houston Grand Opera; Opera de Bellas Artes; New Zealand Opera); Grand Inquisitor Don Carlo (Deutsche Oper Berlin; Bayerische Staasoper); Sparafucile Rigoletto (Hamburg Staatsoper; Opéra de Montréal); Ferrando Il Trovatore (Salzburg Festspiele); Naroumov Pique Dame, Mityukha covering Varlaam Boris Godunov, and roles in the Nose and Prince Igor (Metropolitan Opera); Il Re Aida (San Diego Opera); Dikój Katya Kabanova, King Raimondo Isabeau, Il Cieco Iris, Archibaldo L’amore dei tre Re and Padre Guardiano La forza del destino (Opera Holland Park); and subsequent roles with Santa Fe Opera, Teatro alla Scala Milan, Teatro Colon, Opéra de Québec, Arizona Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and Atlanta Opera.
Mr Svetlov is well known for his interpretation of Verdi's Messa da Requiem having performed at leading venues internationally including London, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Montreal, and throughout the USA. Further performances on the concert platform have seen him sing with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, RAI Orchestra, State Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Symphony Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia, Rome.