Nikolaj Višnjakov

The Prague State Opera’s soloist

The tenor Nikolaj Višňakov is from Siberia. As a student of the Music Academy in Sverdlovsk he was engaged by Perm Opera Theatre. He debuted in the role of Lensky in Eugene Onegin. After graduation he became a soloist at the Voronezh Opera House. He appeared in a number of tenor parts of both Russian and Italian composers. In 1992, he participated in the Fiodor Shaliapin’s International Opera Festival in Kazan. One year later, he was awarded the price at the same festival within the international competition of opera singers. He started collaboration with the Prague State Opera in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov. He performed number of title roles there, e.g. Don Carlos, Faust, Lensky (Eugene Onegin), Manrico (The Troubadour), Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto), Alfredo (La traviata), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly) and Radames (Aida). He also appeared in the role of Radames at Gelbeschat, Germany and at Tokyo. In 2001, he took part in the concert tours with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at Brazil, Lebanon, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Turkey and Japan. In 2004-2005, he was engaged in a prominent tour of the scenic cantata Carmina burana (Carl Orff), which was performed in France, Spain, Portugal, Canada and the USA. During the season 2005-2006, he toured Italy, Mexico and Arabic Emirates (Aida, Carmina burana). This year, he will sing in Spain, Portugal and France.