Mikhail Agafonov

Mikhail Agafonov () is a Russian tenor singer who was born in Moscow and was a graduate of Lunatscharsky Academy for Performing Arts.

Career

In 1993 after graduating from the Academy he joined the Bolshoi Theatre where he sang in such roles as ''Lensky'' and ''Lykov'' in '' The Tsar's Bride'', ''Rodolfo'' in ''La Boheme'' as well starring roles of ''Alfredo'', Faust and Pollione. In 1997 he became a recipient of the first prize at the Zimin International Vocal Competition and then became contract singer at the Vienna Volksoper where he played the role of ''Nemorino'' in Gaetano Donizetti's ''The Elixir of Love'' and other roles. Later on he performed as ''Italian Singer'' in ''Der Rosenkavalier'' at Vienna State Opera and then played as ''Pollione'' at Stockholm, Berlin and Tel Aviv Operas. He also played a role of ''Astrologer'' in a play by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov called ''The Golden Cockerel'' at the Royal Opera Covent Garden and then appeared as ''Rodolfo'' at both Bavarian and Wiesbaden Operas. At Deutsche Oper Berlin he appeared once as ''Pinkerton'' and then performed as ''Manrico'' at the Aalto Theatre which was followed by his appearance as ''Dick Johnson'' at the Florida Grand Opera. Currently he performs at the Canadian Opera where he performs roles of ''Riccardo'', ''Calaf'', and ''Rodolfo'' from Giuseppe Verdi's play called ''Luisa Miller'' and performs as a concert singer at Alte Oper Frankfurt, Essen Philharmonic and Queen Elizabeth Hall. As of 2001 he is a member of Mannheim National Theatre where he sings as ''Duca'', ''Radames'', and ''Assad'' from '' The Queen of Saba'' and many others.

From 2008 to 2009 he performed as ''Bacchus'' in Ariadne auf Naxos's production and the same years appeared as both ''Erik'' and ''Luigi'' in ''Il Tabarro'' and ''Stewa'' in a German city called Mannheim. In the first half of 2009 he played as ''Gabriele Adorno'' in Toronto and then appeared as ''Cavaradossi'' with the Paris Opera. In the last half of 2009 he performed in ''Andrea Chénier'' and then appeared as ''Riccardo'' at the Swedish capital. In 2010 he performed in cities such as Antwerp and Gent in one of which he appeared as ''Cavaradossi'' at Semperoper in Dresden. In 2012 he had two plays to perform in; He played a role of ''Herman'' in Tchaikovsky's '' The Queen of Spades'' and then the same year played as ''Calaf'' in Giacomo Puccini's ''Turandot''.

Repertoire

*''The Golden Cockerel'' — ''Astrologer''
*'' The Queen of Saba'' — ''Duca''/''Radames''/''Assad''
*'' The Queen of Spades'' — ''Herman''
*''Turandot'' — ''Calaf''

References

Living people
Russian tenors
Year of birth missing (living people)

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