The Tchaikovsky Opera Theatre
Press Material

“The Tchaikovsky Opera Theatre singers belonging to the Russian vocal school have beautiful voices of distinct purity and clarity of vocal musical expression; especially basses possess a multitude of timbres being the best part of the men’s chorus. ”

Nicole Hirsch-Klopfenstein, Scenes de la Rivier, Vevey, 2001 - France

“Rimsky-Korsakov created wonderful music with an amazingly rich range of sound expressiveness, prodigious arias and luxurious chorus music superbly performed by the musicians and singers from Perm under the baton of Valery Platonov. ”

Wolf-Peter Bischoff, Sudkurier, 2001 - Germany

“The Perm Opera’s Pique Dame thrilled the audiences and the critics in both Russian capitals by the novelty of its scenic decision to such an extent that everybody was talking about “sensation” and “breakthrough”.”

Aleksey Parin, Opernwelt - Germany

“Trying to find new meanings in staging the Russian classics (Pique Dame) the young director George Isaakyan is engaged in dialogue with the audience, thus exploring their imagination.”

Thomas Starost, Schweinfurter Volkszeitung, 2002 - Germany

“The director’s rich and diverse conception is transmitted through deep insightful motion of musical drama and in the true portrayal of its characters (Pique Dame)”

Thomas Starost, Schweinfurter Volkszeitung, 2002 - Germany

“Tonight’s was truly a gala concert…the feeling of affection between the performers and audience grew…the applause which followed the performance was as stirring as the music which preceded it.”

All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“There is nothing like the sound of a Russian chorus singing a widely spaced homophonic chord…Incomparable! ”

All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“All were worthy contributors to the success of this wonderful evening. ”

All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“The moving singing was that of bass Aleksandr Pogudin…Soprano Irina Krikunova’s radiant voice shone during both an arioso from Charodeyka and Lisa’s aria from The Queen of Spades.”

All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“Nadezhda Babintseva has a slender mezzo-soprano with a large plummy voice. Her stirring performances of an arioso from Oprichnic and Joan of Arc’s aria from The Maid of Orleans were high points in this most entertaining concert.”

All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“The rapid playing of the strings was perfect and the rendition by the bass of the victorious Tsar’s Hymn…was spine-tingling.”

All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“The city of Perm…deserves a place along with Moscow and Saint Petersburg in the pantheon of Russian musical centers.”

Harry Saltzman, All-Tchaikovsky Program, Carnegie Hall, January 2008 - USA

“Mr. Isaakyan…keeps the repertory in Perm unusually adventuresome for Russia…with the first Russian stagings of many operas.”

George Loomis, New York The Sun, 2008 - USA

“Mr. Isaakyan’s stagings have flashes of true brilliance along with moments that can be puzzling.”

Raymond Stults, music critic of the Moscow Times - Russia

“Tatyana Poluektova…was not only in control of her strong mezzo voice, but also very affecting as the wounded she-bear… (Mazeppa, Perm performance at Brooklyn Academy of Music).”

Fred Kirshnit, New York The Sun, 2008 - USA

“Here was a troupe of artists immersed in the style and language of 19th century Russian opera. As Maria, the soprano Irina Krikunova sang with cool, lustrous sound and lyrical poignancy. The formidable soprano Tatyana Poluektova stole every scene she was in as Maria’s mother, Lyubov.”

Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times, 2008 - USA

“Musically, this was a solid performance (Mazeppa). The Perm group brought all of its prodigious forces, including a large chorus and a very large orchestra… Those who think of Tchaikovsky as only a spinner of prettified tales need an evening’s immersion in Mazeppa.”

Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times, 2008 - USA