Sofia Fomina

The Southbank Centre announced its 2019/20 Classical Season on 18 February, and Intermusica artists appear throughout. In addition to the Southbank Centre's world class annual programming, the new season also marks the start of Beethoven 250, the venue's year-long celebration of the composer's birth.

Southbank Centre Associate Artists Marin Alsop and Colin Currie both give multiple performances over the course of the season. On 9 November, Alsop conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Walton Belshazzar's Feast alongside Butterworth A Shropshire Lad and Elgar Enigma Variations. She then returns in April for Beyond Beethoven 9, in which she leads the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and a massed choir of 200 singers in two performances of Beethoven Symphony No.9 together with four new commissions between the movements of the symphony. 

Beyond Beethoven 9 is part of All Together: A Global Ode to Joy, an initiative in conjunction with Carnegie Hall which take place on five continents with nine orchestras and sees the symphony reimagined as a “twenty-first century call for unity, justice and empowerment”. Read our full story on All Together here.

Currie first appears at the Southbank in the 2019/20 season at the International Chamber Music Series, recreating the premiere of Steve Reich Drumming at the Hayward Gallery with the Colin Currie Group on 6 and 7 December. He performs in the series again on 1 February 2020 alongside the JACK Quartet. Finally he joins the Philharmonia Orchestra for an Artist Portrait concert in their Music of Today series on 14 May.

Kirill Gerstein joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra in concert on 23 October to give the UK premiere of Thomas Adès Piano Concerto, performing under the baton of the composer himself. He then returns to the Philharmonia Orchestra on 13 February 2020 alongside Lahav Shani, who conducts Gerstein in Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini as well as Prokofiev Overture to War and Peace and Romeo and Juliet.

Daniil Trifonov also gives two performances at the Southbank Centre. On 31 October, he performs a solo recital of Schumann, Beethoven and Prokofiev at the Royal Festival Hall. On 22 March 2020, he joins Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony as the soloist for Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.4, part of Tilson Thomas' final season at the head of the orchestra.

In 2020 Lise Davidsen performs with the long-standing chiefs of both the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Vladimir Jurowski. On 19 March, she joins Salonen and the Philharmonia to sing Mahler Humeresken, a collection of settings of poems from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Then on 4 April she performs Beethoven Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II with Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, part of the Beethoven 250 series.

Also appearing in the Southbank Centre's 2019/20 season are conductors Charles Hazlewood (28 September), Geoffrey Paterson (21 November), Andrew Manze (7 December), Mark Wigglesworth (4 February 2020), Emmanuel Krivine (14 February 2020), John Wilson (27 February 2020), Thierry Fischer (10 March 2020) and Nicholas Collon (16 May 2020); violinists James Ehnes (9 October) and Leonidas Kavakos (27 February 2020); singers Sofia Fomina (19 October), Susan Bickley (30 November), Mary Bevan (15 December), Susanna Hurrell and Simon Shibambu (15 January 2020), Patricia Bardon (1 February 2020), Joélle Harvey (20 February 2020) and Wallis Giunta (11 June 2020); pianists Andreas Haefliger (15 March 2020) and George Li (3 May 2020); and cellist Kian Soltani (27 February 2020).

Intermusica is proud to co-promote the International Chamber Music Series with the Southbank Centre, a relationship which has lasted for almost 30 years. Click here to read our full summary of the series in the 2019/20 season.

Click here for complete details for Southbank Centre's 2019/20 classical season.

On 29 and 30 November 2018, Lise Davidsen and Sofia Fomina perform Der Freischütz with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marek Janowski. Davidsen sings the role of Agathe and Fomina sings the role of Ännchen in the performances in Frankfurt, which will later be released as a recording.

Davidsen made her debut in the role in 2016 at Opernhaus Zürich where she will return later this season in her role debut as Elisabeth Tannhäuser, a role she later performs at Bayerische Staatsoper and in her debut at the Bayreuth Festspiele. Other highlights include a role debut as Liza The Queen of Spades at Oper Stuttgart, Sieglinde in Die Walküre with the Antwerp and Toronto Symphony orchestras and Strauss Vier letzte Lieder with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra.

This marks Fomina’s debut in the role of Ännchen and follows an acclaimed return to Bayerische Staatsoper as Gilda Rigoletto. Upcoming highlights include a role and company debut as Pamina in a new production of Die Zauberflöte at Glyndebourne Festival and a return to Bayerische Staatsoper as Fiakermili Arabella. Further ahead she makes her debut in the title role Manon.

Sofia Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper this month as Gilda in Rigoletto, which opens on 20 October 2018. The production is directed by Árpád Schilling and conducted by Daniele Callegari. Fomina is joined by fellow cast members Piero Pretti and Simon Keenlyside.

Recent operatic highlights for Fomina include her US operatic debut as Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia with Seattle Opera, Musetta La bohème at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Adele Die Fledermaus at Bayerische Staatsoper and Gilda at the Royal Opera House. On the concert platform she continued her collaboration with Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra as Woglinde Das Rheingold.

Later this season Fomina make her role and company debut as Pamina in a new production of Die Zauberflöte at Glyndebourne Festival and returns to Bayerische Staatsoper as Fiakiermili Arabella. She also makes her Wigmore Hall debut together with pianist Iain Burnside.

Performances of Rigoletto continue until 2 November. For more information, click here.

Sofia Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper on 31 December 2017 to sing Adele Die Fledermaus. Leander Haußmann’s production is conducted by Friedrich Haider.

Fomina began this season with her US operatic debut as Rosina Il barbiere di sivigilia and immediately following, made her house debut as Musetta La bohème at the Baden-Baden Festspiele. Other recent highlights include a sensational role and house debut as Berthe Le Prophète at Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and numerous appearances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in London, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, New York and Dresden.

Following her Bayerische Staatsoper debuts in 2016 as Blonde and as Oscar, deemed by the critics as “a vocal discovery” and “formidably striking”, Fomina has also been invited to return to Munich to star as Oscar Un ballo in maschera, Die Fiakiermilli Arabella and Angelica in a new production of Haydn’s Orlando Paladino. On the concert platform, Fomina continues her collaboration with Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra as Woglinde in Das Rheingold. Further ahead she makes more appearances as Gilda as well as singing her first Pamina.

Performances of Die Fledermaus run until February 6 2018.

Leonardo Capalbo and Sofia Fomina appear at the Baden-Baden Festspielhaus on 10 and 12 November 2017 as Rodolfo and Musetta in a new production of La bohème directed by Philipp Himmelmann and conducted by Teodor Currentzis.

Capalbo most recently performed Rodolfo, one of his signature roles, at the Theater St Gallen. Other recent highlights include a return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to sing the title role in Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Don José Carmen at the inaugural Grange Festival. Upcoming highlights include Earl of Essex in Sir David McVicar’s new production of Britten’s Gloriana at Teatro Real, Nemorino L’elisir d’amore at Staatsoper Hannover and a return to Polish National Opera as Don José in a new Carmen.

Making her house debut at the Baden-Baden Festspiele, Fomina started her career under the musical guidance of Teodor Currenztis. Last month she made her North American operatic debut as Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia at Seattle Opera and on 5 November she appears in Berlin at the coveted AIDS Gala. Other recent highlights include a critically acclaimed performance as Berthe Le Prohète at Theatre du Capitole Toulouse. Later this season Fomina returns to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to sing Gilda Rigoletto alongside Dimitri Platanias in the title role and Michael Fabiano as Duke of Mantua. On the concert platform, Fomina continues her collaboration with Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra as Woglinde in Das Rheingold and returns to Bayerische Staatsoper to sing in four productions: Adele Die Fledermaus, Oscar Un ballo in maschera, Die Fiakiermilli Arabella and Angelica in a new production of Haydn’s Orlando Paladino. Further ahead she makes more appearances as Gilda as well as singing her first Pamina.

Sofia Fomina kicks off the new operatic season with her US debut as Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia at Seattle Opera on 15 October 2017. The production is directed by Lindy Hume and conducted by Giacomo Sagripanti.

Immediately following her debut in Seattle, Fomina makes her house debut as Musetta La bohème at the Baden-Baden Festspiele and returns again to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to sing Gilda Rigoletto alongside Dimitri Platanias in the title role and Michael Fabiano as Duke of Mantua. On the concert platform, Fomina continues her collaboration with Vladimir Jurowski and the London Philharmonic Orchestra as Woglinde in Das Rheingold.

Following her Bayerische Staatsoper debuts in 2016 as Blonde and as Oscar, deemed by the critics as “a vocal discovery” and “formidably striking”, Fomina has been invited to return to Munich this season to star in four productions: Adele Die Fledermaus, Oscar Un ballo in maschera, Die Fiakiermilli Arabella and Angelica in a new production of Haydn’s Orlando Paladino. Further ahead she makes more appearances as Gilda as well as singing her first Pamina.

Sofia Fomina, Marianne Beate Kielland and Russell Braun joins Fabio Luisi and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for two performances of Mahler Symphony No.8 on 31 August and 1 September.

A regular performer of Mahler’s Symphonies, this season Fomina joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Mahler’s Symphony No.8 in London and Mahler’s Symphony No.4 in London, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, New York and Dresden. She also made her debut with the Orchestra of Teatro Real by performing Mahler’s Symphony No.2. Other recent highlights include Olympia Les contes d’Hoffmann at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Marzelline in a concert performance of Fidelio with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Blondchen Die Enführung aus dem Serail at Bayerische Staatsoper and a role and house debut as Berthe Le prophète at Theatre du Capitole Toulouse.

Future highlights include a role and house debut as Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia at Seattle Opera, Musetta La bohème at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Gilda Rigoletto at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and numerous appearance at Bayerische Staatsoper: Adele Die Fledermaus, Oscar Un ballo in maschera, Arabella Die Fiakiermilli and Angelica in a new production of Haydn’s Orlando Paladino.

Kielland has recently received acclaim for her newly released disc of Mozart lieder entitled Whispering Mozart, and for her recent performances at the Oslo Chamber Music Festival and with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Highlights of the coming season include Bach Christmas Oratorio with the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Mendelssohn Symphony No.2 and Beethoven Symphony No.9 with the Calgary Philharmonic, and Dido and Aeneas with the Netherlands Bach Society.

Braun begins a busy season of work in North America, including Golaud Pelleas et Melisande for Cincinnati Symphony, Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia for Calgary Opera, Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem for Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Mahler Symphony No.8 for Montreal Symphony. He can also be seen as Alfred III in Der Besuch der Alten Dame for Theater an der Wien in early 2018.

Sofia Fomina makes her company and role debut as Berthe in Stefano Vizioli’s new production of Meyerbeer Le Prophète on 23 June 2017. Conducted by Claus Peter Flor, Fomina is joined by John Osborn as Jean de Leyde and Kate Aldrich as his mother, Fides. Le Prophète marks a return to Meyerbeer, since her sensational 2012 debut on the stage of Royal Opera House as Isabelle Robert le Diable, which marked Fomina’s impressive start to an international career.

Since then she has returned to Covent Garden every season, most recently as Jemmy Guillaume Tell and Olympia Les contes d’Hoffmann. She has also made several appearances in concert in London and on tour with the London Philharmonic Orchestra as well as City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Next season she returns to Covent Garden to star as Gilda in Rigoletto alongside Dimitri Platanias in the title role and Michael Fabiano as Duke of Mantua.

Following her Bayerische Staatsoper debuts last season as Blonde and as Oscar, deemed by the critics as “a vocal discovery” and “formidably striking”, Fomina has been invited to return to Munich next season to star in four productions: Adele Die Fledermaus, Oscar Ballo in Maschera, Die Fiakiermilli Arabella and Angelica in a new production of Haydn’s Orlando Paladino.

She also makes two other important debuts: her operatic US debut as Rosina Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Seattle Opera and her company debut with Baden-Baden Festspielhaus as Musetta in a production of La Boheme conducted by Teodor Currentzis. Further ahead she makes more appearances as Gilda as well as singing her first Pamina.

Performances of Le Prophète run until 2 July

Sofia Fomina makes her US debut on 26 February 2017 when she performs Mahler Symphony No.4 at Lincoln Center with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski. 

Her upcoming performance in New York marks part of a season-long tour with the orchestra, which includes concerts in London, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and Dresden. Later this season, Fomina rejoin Jurowski and the orchestra for a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No.8 at the Royal Festival Hall and another performance of Symphony No. 4 at the Kulturpalast, Dresden. Earlier this season Fomina returned to the UK to perform the role of Marzelline in LPO’s semi-staged production of Beethoven Fidelio, which was met with great praise:

“the music-making was a wow, right from the overture’s punchy motto rhythms and the fresh gold of Sofia Fomina’s soprano as Marzelline. She’s a true rising star.”
Times

“Most winning of all the performers were Sofia Fomina, who charmed as Rocco’s daughter Marzelline"
Telegraph

Following her performance with the LPO, Fomina makes her debut with Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and returns to Perm State Opera and Ballet Theatre for a collaboration with Teodor Currentzis.

Sofia Fomina and Ben Johnson join the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski on 21 January 2017 to present a semi-staged production of Beethoven Fidelio at the Royal Festival Hall. Ben Johnson sings the role of Jacquino while Sofia Fomina is Marzelline.

This season, highlights for Ben Johnson include Mozart Requiem with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Andris Nelsons and with the Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin under Vladimir Jurowski. Later in the season Johnson returns to Opera Holland Park as Don Ottavio in Mozart Don Giovanni.

Future season highlights for Fomina include Mahler Symphony No. 4 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Lincoln Center, Mahler Symphony No. 8 at the Royal Festival Hall, Berthe La Prophéte with Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse and La bohème with Perm State Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Evelino Pidò returns to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 7 November 2016 to conduct Les contes d’Hoffmann. He conducts a cast that includes Sofia Fomina as Olympia. Leonardo Capalbo sings the role of Hoffmann in performances on 28 November and 3 December. 

In her most recent performance at the Royal Opera House, Fomina received great praise for her performance in the trouser role of Lemmy in Guillaume Tell:

Sofia Fomina as Jemmy is possessed of a clean, pure and yet formidably striking soprano"
Music OMH, July 2015

Fomina returns to the UK in 2017 for a performance of Fidelio with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall.

Capalbo made his Royal Opera House debut last season, as Ismaele in Nabucco:

"Debuting at the Royal Opera House, the promising Italian tenor Leonardo Capalbo made the audience sit up and take notice due to the suppleness of his voice and his distinctive timbre”.
Opernglas, August 2016

Les contes d’Hoffmann, directed by John Schlesinger, opens on 7 November with performances on 11, 15, 18, 21, 24 and 28 November and 3 December. Capalbo can be heard in the title role on 28 November and 3 December.

Sofia Fomina begins her 2016-17 season in Spain, joining the orchestra and chorus of the Teatro Real for a performance of Mahler Symphony No.2 at Toledo Cathedral on 8 October 2016.

An artist with a rapidly growing career in the concert hall, Fomina recently sang Nannetta Falstaff with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Edward Gardner, to great acclaim:

"[G]leaming through it all, Fomina’s sweet, sunlit singing as Nannetta: a luminous performance"
Arts Desk, July 2016

Following her performance of Mahler in Spain, Fomina returns to the UK for a season-long tour with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski, starting with a performance of Mahler Symphony No.4 at the Royal Festival Hall on 12 October. Later in the year the tour visits Alicante, Valencia and Madrid, and in 2017 it continues to New York and Dresden.

Sofia Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper for the prestigious Munich Opera Fetsival to reprise her roles as Oscar in Verdi Un Ballo in maschera on 27 and 30 July and Blonde in Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail on 29 July 2016.

Fomina garnered both critical and public acclaim for her role debut as Oscar:

"A true discovery. Her crisp soprano with coloratura was well suited for a beautiful ballad and an equally good performance in the third act, following the conspiracy scene."
Place de l'Opera

"A vocal discovery: Sofia Fomina’s Oscar was sung with a stunning silvery soprano sound, exhilaratingly beautiful her voice floated over the large ensembles”
Online Merker

Next season Fomina returns to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for her role debut as Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffmann and sings Berthe in a new production of Le Prophete at Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse, alongside John Osborn and Ekaterina Gubanova. On the concert platform Fomina joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir Jurowski for performances of Mahler Symphonies Nos 4 and 8, as well as a concert performance of Beethoven Fidelio. She can also be heard on tour with the orchestra performing Mahler Symphony No.4 in Spain, Germany and the United States. Italian audiences can hear her as Adele in the New Year’s Gala performance of Die Fledermaus with Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.

Corinne Winters and Sofia Fomina make their first appearances with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra this month, performing under the baton of Edward Gardner in Verdi Falstaff on 13 July 2016.

Winters makes her role debut as Alice Ford, while Fomina reprises the role of Nanetta, which she has previously sung for Oper Frankfurt. They perform opposite Ambrogio Maestri in the title role.

Winters has most recently made her role debut as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Semyon Bychkov, and next season she debuts at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, reprising the role of Fiordiligi, and singing Violetta in Verdi La traviata. Winters can also be seen as Violetta in San Diego and Seattle in early 2017.

Fomina returns to the UK next season to sing Olympia in Les contes d'Hoffman at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and also joins the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall performing Mahler Symphony No. 4 in October 2016, for Beethoven Fidelio in January 2017 and for Mahler Symphony No. 8 in April 2017. Following her performance in Birmingham, she returns to the Bayerishe Staatsoper in late July to reprise her roles as Oscar in Verdi Un ballo in Maschera and Blonde in Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, announced its 2016/17 season on 6 April 2016. The season sees Corinne Winters make her house debut, while Capalbo and Gregory Kunde all take title roles in new productions:

Corinne Winters makes her Royal Opera House debut as Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte in a new production opening on 22 September. She also returns to the role of Violetta La traviata in June 2017.

Alexander Lewis sings the title role of Shostakovich’s The Nose and Susan Bickley sings Old Lady, in a new production by Barrie Kosky conducted by Ingo Metzmacher opening on 20 October 2016.

Leonardo Capalbo sings the title role of Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Sofia Fomina singing Olympia, conducted by Evelino Pidò. Les Contes d’Hoffmann opens on 7 November.

Christopher Purves reprises the role of Protector in George Benjamin’s Written on Skin opening on 13 January 2017.

Gregory Kunde sings the title role in Verdi’s Otello in June 2017 alongside Kai Rüütel as Emilia. Keith Warner directs this new production.

Following her performances in the Bayerische Staatsoper’s recent production of Un Ballo in Maschera, Sofia Fomina has received exceptional praise for her performance as Oscar. Conducted by Zubin Mehta in a new production by Johannes Erath, Fomina was highly celebrated as a "vocal discovery" who stood out amongst the cast for her "stunning silvery soprano sound":

“A vocal discovery: Sofia Fomina’s Oscar was sang with a stunning silvery soprano sound, exhilaratingly beautiful her voice floated over the large ensembles”
Online Merker, March 2016

"A true discovery. Her crisp soprano with coloratura was well suited for a beautiful ballad and an equally good performance in the third act, following the conspiracy scene."
Place de l'Opera, March 2016

“Even Sofia Fomina as messenger Oscar and Okka from Damerau as Lucifer stood in league with the prophetess Ulrica and were highly celebrated”
Online Focus, March 2016

“The page boy seems like a joker, and determines the storyline. Wonderfully sung, the dazzling Oscar is played by the splendidly nimble Sofia Fomina”
Klassik Info, March 2016

“The page boy Oscar is charming (played the wonderfully agile Sofia Fomina)”
NMZ Online, March 2016

Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper later this month to reprise the role of Blondchen on 26 and 30 April.

Sofia Fomina returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper on 6 March 2016 to perform the role of Oscar in the company’s new production of Verdi Un ballo in maschera. Conducted by Zubin Mehta and directed by Johannes Erath, Fomina joins the star cast which includes Piotr Beczala, Anja Harteros and George Petean.

In her recent performance in Damiano Michieletto’s production of Guillaume Tell at the Royal Opera House, Fomina was praised for her performance in the trouser role of Jemmy:

"The sparky Jemmy of Sofia Fomina, whose clean soprano lines gave consistent musical pleasure”
Opera 

"[Fomina was] possessed of a clean, pure and yet formidably striking soprano"
Music OHM

"Sofia Fomina is excellent in the trouser role of Jemmy - even if Michieletto's ideas for for this role seem conflicted, Fomina is always able to make the part convincing."
Limelight Magazine 

Further performances are on 9, 19, 23, 28 March and 1 April. Following this, Fomina stays with Bayerische Staatsoper to sing the role of Blonde in their spring production of Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail. She reprises both roles during the Munich Opera Festival in July.

Sofia Fomina performs in joins the Czech Philharmonic to perform Orf Carmina Burana at the orchestra's New Year’s Concert on 1 January 2016, broadcast live on Czech television. Fomina performs alongside Barry Banks and Auden Iverson under the baton of Jakub Hrůša. The concert also features Gershwin Cuban Overture and Miloš Karadaglić performing Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez.

Later in the 2015/16 season, Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper for a new production of Un ballo in maschera conducted by Zubin Mehta. On the concert platform she makes her City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra debut in a concert version of Falstaff, conducted by Edward Gardener. Further ahead, engagements include leading roles at Royal Opera House and Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse.

Sofia Fomina returns to the Bayersiche Staatsoper on 7 November 2015 to perform Blonde in Martin Duncan’s production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Conducted by Ivor Bolton, Fomina sings alongside Brenda Rae as Konstanze, Benjamin Bruns as Belmonte and Matthew Grills and Pedrillo.

The role is fast becoming a stable of Fomina’s repeartoire having last season singing it at Opera de Paris as well as Oper Frankfurt and Saarländisches Staatstheater.

“Her cheerful, beguiling and technically brilliant voice won the audience over”
Opernnetz, September 2012

“…Sofia Fomina as Blonde was a force to be reckoned with”
Saarbrücker Zeitung, September 2012

Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper later this season when she sings Oscar in a new production of Un ballo in Maschera conducted by Zubin Mehta. Further highlights for Fomina this season include Carmina Burana in a New Year Gala Concert with the Czech Philharmonic and Jakub Hrusa and her City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra debut in a concert version of Falstaff, conducted by Edward Gardener. Further ahead, engagements include leading roles at Royal Opera House and Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse.

Ruxandra Donose and Sofia Fomina return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on 10 October 2015 for the revival of Christof Loy's production of Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos.

Ruxandra Donose reprises her “committed and passionate” role as the Composer, an interpretation that was widely praised in 2014:

“Ruxandra Donose charismatically holds things together as the Composer, with a wonderfully pure melodic line; the way Donose melds her sound with that of Jane Archibald’s Zerbinetta - as they realise they are each other’s emotional mirror-image - creates a strangely tender magic.”
Independent

Donose has a busy season ahead of her with performances as Eduige Rodelinda at the Bolshoi Theatre, La Damnation de Faust with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Ramise Arminio Karlsruhe as well as performance in the Philharmonia’s anniversary season opening at the Royal Festival Hall and Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the Enescu Festival.

Sofia Fomina, now a regular at the Royal Opera House following her acclaimed Jemmy Guillame Tell, returns as Naiad, one of the Nymphs in the opera.

“One of the two true stars … [was] Russian light soprano Sofia Fomina whose personality in the Greek-chorus nymphs’ trio is matched by the luxury casting of Karen Cargill.”
Arts Desk

In the 2015-16 season, Fomina returns to Bayerische Staatsoper as Blondchen and Oscar in a new production of Un ballo in maschera conducted by Zubin Mehta. On the concert platform she sings Carmina Burana in a New Year Gala Concert with the Czech Philharmonic and Jakub Hrusa as well as making her City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra debut in a concert version of Falstaff, conducted by Edward Gardener. Further ahead, engagements include leading roles at Royal Opera House and Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse.

Following the opening night on the 10 October there will be two subsequent performances on 13 and 16 October.

Sofia Fomina’s performance of Jemmy in Royal Opera House’s current production of Guillaume Tell is gaining huge critical acclaim. Fomina, who returns to a trouser role next season at Bayerische Staatsoper as Oscar in a new production of Ballo in maschera conducted by Zubin Mehta, has been lauded for her “pure and yet formidably striking soprano” and “touching” acting:

“Sofia Fomina as Jemmy is possessed of a clean, pure and yet formidably striking soprano”
Music OMH, July 2015

"Sofia Fomina (in the trouser-role of Tell’s son Jemmy) shows off a deliciously clear, fresh-voiced timbre, which is ideal for the part"
Blou in Art Info, July 2015 

“Russian soprano Sofia Fomina was pure delight as Tell’s young son Jemmy”
Daily Express, June 2015

“[Gerald Finley was] supported by an expressive and touchingly boyish Sofia Fomina as Jemmy”
Spectator, June 2015

“There was strong support from a polyglot supporting cast as well, with notable contributions from… Sofia Fomina (Jemmy)”
Daily Telegraph, June 2015

“Sofia Fomina impressed as Guillaume’s son Jemmy, clear-voiced and ardent, with good stage presence.”
Bachtrack, June 2015

“Sofia Fomina, star of the Royal Opera’s last revival of Ariadne auf Naxos (as a minor nymph!), is a game and clarion Jemmy, convincing as a bullied boy.”
Arts Desk, June 2015

“Sofia Fomina incarnates the boy with the apple on his head with beautifully-observed delicacy.”
Independent, June 2015

“The entire thing is a fantasy of Tell’s son Jemmy (feistily played by Sofia Fomina).”
Times, June 2015

Further performances of Guillaume Tell take place on 2,5,10,14 and 17 July at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Sofia Fomina and Michael Colvin perform in Damiano Michieletto's new production of Rossini's Guillaume Tell at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, from 29 June 2015. Conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, the cast also includes Gerald Finley, John Osborn and Malin Byström.

Sofia Fomina is returning to the Royal Opera House with a role debut as Jemmy, having first appeared at Covent Garden in 2012 as Isabelle in Laurent Pelly’s production of Robert Le Diable. Earlier this season, she made her Paris Opera debut as Blondchen and performed Zerbinetta, Blondchen, Nanetta and Musetta in Frankfurt.

Next season she returns to Covent Garden for Ariadne auf Naxos and to Bayerische Staatsoper for performances of Entführung aus dem serial (Blondchen) as well as her role debut as Oscar in a new production of Un ballo in maschera conducted by Zubin Mehta. On the concert platform she appears with the Czech Philarmonic and Jakub Hrůša for a New Year Gala performance of Carmina Burana and with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Edward Gardner as Nanetta in a concert version of Falstaff. Future plans include her role debuts as Olimpia, Konstanze and Berthe Le prophète.

A regular at leading houses across North America and Europe, Michael Colvin makes his Royal Opera House debut as Rodolphe. His recent highlights include Bob Boles and the title role of Peter Grimes for English National Opera, Goro and Dr Caius for Canadian Opera Company and his debut as Herod Salome with Northern Ireland Opera. Following this debut, he will make further house debuts with Dutch National Opera (L’Aumonier Dialogues des Carmelites) and Paris Opera (Duke of Cornwall King Lear).

Guillaume Tell opens on 29 June, and further performances are on 2, 5, 8, 10, 14 and 17 July.

Sofia Fomina performs the role of Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos with the Hungarian State Opera on 20 March, the first time this work has been performed in Budapest for over 40 years. Fomina comes fresh from a successful run of performances of this role in Oper Frankfurt:

“The best moments in this Ariadne was…Zerbinetta's powerful and passionate aria - Sofia Fomina deployed vocal power and conciseness…”
Michael Demel, www.deropernfreund.de, December 2014

Further engagements in the 2014/15 season for Fomina include a return to Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with a role debut as Jemmy in the new Damiano Micheletto production of Guillaume Tell with Sir Antonio Pappano. Further ahead, engagements include leading roles at Bayerische Staastoper, Royal Opera House and Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse.

Sofia Fomina makes a company debut at Opéra de Paris on 21 January with her “cheerful, beguiling and technically brilliant” (Opernetz) Blondchen in Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail. She is joined by Lisette Oropesa as Konstanze, Frederic Antoun as Belmonte, Michael Laurenz as Pedrillo and Maurizio Muraro as Osmin. Marius Stieghorst will conduct this series of performances.

Fomina made a sensational debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in December 2012 as Isabelle in Laurent Pelly’s new production of Robert Le Diable (“Sofia Fomina, a singer entirely new to me, offered a ravishing performance as Isabelle, the Sicilian princess. Tone and line were impeccable throughout”). Shortly after she joined the ensemble of Oper Frankfurt and debuted the role of Gilda, which was also a vehicle for her debut with Opernhaus Zurich:

“Psychologically, Gürbaca delved deepest into Gilda, sung by last-minute replacement Russian soprano Sofia Fomina for influenza-stricken Aleksandra Kurzak. Fomina – a genuine, unaffected, sensitive singer – made her character even more compelling as an unremarkable, sheltered girl crushing on a boy so far out of her league that her myopia was laughable. During Pirgu’s peerless “La donna è mobile,” she was so hypnotised by his charm that its sinister message fell on deaf ears... “Caro nome” showed off Fomina’s flexible, gilded, accurate coloratura full of clean trills and meditative focus.”
Auditorium, June 2013

“Sofia Fomina was a superlative Gilda, whose dark soprano united ease and blooming radiance...”
Das Opernglas, June 2013

Further engagements for Fomina this season include a return to Royal Opera House with a role debut as Jemmy in the new Damiano Micheletto production of Guillaume Tell with Sir Antonio Pappano, Musetta at Oper Frankfurt and, further ahead, leading roles at Bayerische Staastoper, Royal Opera House and Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse.

Sofia Fomina celebrates the Russia UK Year of Culture with a recital at the Russian Embassy in London on 25 September, previewing the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Rachmaninoff Inside Out Festival. She will sing a selection of Rachmaninoff songs accompanied at the piano by Vladimir Jurowski, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the LPO.

Fomina is a passionate interpreter and ambassador of Russian songs, and was also a prize winner at the ninth International edition of the Mozart Competition in Salzburg. She made her UK debut with Vladimir Jurowski and the LPO in 2010 when she performed Janáček’s The Eternal Gospel and last year at the invitation of Jurowski, she joined him on tour with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in Ferrara, Bologna and Frankfurt performing Mussorgsky’s The Nursery and Mahler’s Symphony No.4.

Sofia Fomina makes her role debut as Musetta in Alfred Kirchner’s production of La bohème on 5 September at Oper Frankfurt am Main, where she is currently a member of the ensemble. Under the baton of Karsten Januschke, she performs alongside Karen Vuong and Mario Chang throughout September and October.
Whilst performing in La bohème, Fomina will also be reviving her role as Nannetta in Keith Warner’s production of Falstaff, conducted by Jonathan Darlington.

The performances begin Fomina’s 2014/15 season, which will include highlights such as her debut with Opéra de Paris as Blondchen in a new production of Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail and a return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, with a role debut as Jemmy in the new Damiano Micheletto production of Guillaume Tell with Sir Antonio Pappano.

La bohème performances are 5, 7 September and 8, 11 October. Falstaff performances are 19, 27 September and 3, 5, 10, 18, 24 October.

Ruxandra Donose and Sofia Fomina appear at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 25 June in Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. Donose sings Komponist and Sofia Fomina takes the role of Naiad and covers Zerbinetta. Conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, this classic production is directed by Christof Loy. Donose and Fomina are joined by Roberto Saccà as Bacchus/The Tenor, Jane Archibald as Zerbinetta, Markus Werba as Harlequin, Sir Thomas Allen as Music Master and Ed Lyon as Dancing Master.

Ariadne auf Naxos is the penultimate engagement in a busy season for Ruxandra Donose, whose recent highlights have included Les nuits d’ete and La mort de Cleopatre on tour with Orchestra Philharmonique Royal de Liege and Christian Arming, with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Edward Gardner at the Royal Festival Hall. She finishes the 2013/14 season in the role of Marguerite Le Damnation de Faust at the Verbier Festival, alongside Sir Willard White.

Sofia Fomina returns to the Royal Opera House following her house debut as Isabelle in Laurent Pelly’s 2012 production of Robert le Diable. A member of the ensemble at Oper Frankfurt, this season’s roles have included Oronte Ezio, Queen of the Night Die Zauberflöte, Sophie Werther; Angelica Orlando Furioso and Nanetta Falstaff. Fomina returns to the Royal Opera House next season as Jemmy in Damiano Michieletto’s new production of Guillaume Tell alongside Gerald Finley.

Ariadne auf Naxos opens on 25 June with further performances on 30 June, 3, 10 and 13 July.