Elena Zhidkova

Russian mezzo soprano Elena Zhidkova was engaged by Götz Friedrich at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1996. In the following years she sang, among other roles, Olga (Eugen Onegin), Cherubino (Nozze di Figaro) and Dorabella (Così fan tutte). 

In 2001, 2002 and 2003 the artist appeared as Flosshilde and Schwertleite at the Bayreuth Festival. Claudio Abbado invited her to sing in a concert version of Parsifal, in Schumann’s Faustszenen and for his farewell concert at the Berliner Philharmonie, where she later could be seen again alongside Nikolaus Harnoncourt in Handel’s Jephta. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra accompanied her as Agnese in Beatrice di Tenda. In 2004 she gave her much acclaimed debut as Waltraute (Götterdämmerung) at the Teatro Real Madrid and could likewise celebrate a huge success with Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde.  As a much sought after guest at the New National Theatre in Tokyo she sang Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte), Octavian (Rosenkavalier) and Fricka (Rheingold, Walküre). In 2007 Elena Zhidkova achieved an eminent success with her role debut as Adriano in the new production of Rienzi. Venus in Tannhäuser led her to the Semperoper Dresden in 2008. In the same year she most successfully sang Judith at the La Scala premiere of Duke Bluebeard´s Castle, a role she also performed at London Barbican Hall under the baton of Valéry Gergiev.

2009/10 saw her debuts in two important roles – Marie (Wozzeck) at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as well as Kundry (Parsifal) in Nice and Düsseldorf. She sang Judith again at the Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam. For her interpretation of this role at the Mariinsky Theatre she was awarded the „Golden Mask“ - the renowned National Theatre Award - for the best singing actress in Russia in 2011. Again as Judith she was invited to sing at the „Saito Kinen Festival“ in Japan and China under the direction of Seiji Ozawa. As Fricka in Rheingold she could be seen at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Future projects include: Venus (Tannhäuser) in Budapest, Kundry (Parsifal) in Lyon, Waltraute (Götterdämmerung) in Seville as well as La Principessa in a new production of Adriana Lecouvreur atVienna State Opera.