Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus
On 26 January the audience of the Bolshoi will whirl in the opera Un ballo in maschera by genious Verdi. Mikhail Malafiy will be featured in the lead role of Riccardo in “the most melodramatic of all the melodramas". The soloist of Lviv Opera was awarded First Prize and Audience Award at the 2nd Minsk International Christmas Singing Competition. Mikhail has already mastered the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus for he has already made a number of appearances in our theatre.
‘It feels like home here in Minsk. No, not even that: I AM home,’ smiles the Ukrainian tenor. ‘I hope the Belarusian audience loves me in return judging by the fact that I received the highest award, Audience Award...
Once again, the rapturous applause that rippled the Bolshoi Theatre following Mikhail’s performances is a vivid testimony to that: in April, he sang the part of Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera by Verdi, in October he was shot... as Lensky in Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, in November he sang the challenging part of Alfredo paired with the brilliant Nadezhda Pavlova in the title role in the opera La Traviata by Verdi, in December he took part in the Gala concert of world opera stars in the framework of Minsk International Christmas Singing Competition.
It is worth noting, that one of the 16 members of the board of jury at the 3rd International Christmas Singing Competition in Minsk was Eder Tadey, General Director of the Solomiya Krushelnitska Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre where the 26-year old Mikhail Malafiy works. At a press conference Mr. Eder Tadey while answering a question of journalists, whether he is jealous of his artist working in Belarus, said that real talent shouldn’t have boundaries and mustn’t be restrained! He noted that ‘the Belarusian Orpheus’, a brilliant tenor and a distinguished opera singer of the twentieth century Zinovy Babiy made his first steps on his way to world fame on the stage of Lviv Opera.
While Mikhail Malafiy still dreams of the brilliant career of Zinovy Babiy, he admits that it was namely the winning of First Prize of Minsk Competition that gave him a considerable impetus to his singing career, ‘People got to know me, I started getting invited. I have just arrived from Gdansk. Sofia, Varna and even Santiago are ahead. But Minsk is the city that I come to with great pleasure knowing that I will find a warm and emotional welcome here.’
On 26 January, on the stage of the Bolshoi the story of true love and friendship will be closely intertwined with the political games in the opera Un ballo in maschera by Giuseppe Verdi.
‘The part of Riccardo is great and complex, says Mikhail. But I love it because is suits my voice very well, and I can sing it through the whole performance quite easily. My mentor, the world famous Bulgarian tenor Kaludi Kaludov helps me with this part. In general, I think that every soloist under 45 should sing exclusively under the control of a teacher. I found mine. Kaludi gives me valuable pieces of advice and recommendations. Sometimes he says, "Mishenka! Too many feelings on stage! There should be freedom in every sound and emotion will manifest itself...” I really love the Italian school of singing: the freedom of vibration and legato, the beautiful cantilena and high coloratura. I guess I like this particular style of performance because I can sing long and freely quite naturally.
By the way, scientists have proved that if after the solo of a tenor you shout "Bravo!", it is very beneficial for his body. (Smiles.) So I am looking forward to your coming on January 26 to the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus where I will try to bring you joy with my singing for there is nothing like music that is so healing for the soul’.
