Over the past 30 years, Maria Guleghina has been one of the most sought-after sopranos of her generation. Her dramatic skills and her immense voice have captivated audiences around the world as she brought them some of the most memorable interpretations.

Her Abigaille in “Nabucco” and Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth” are legendary, while her Turandot was a revelation when she first took on the role in 2008. Now years after dominating the Verdi and verismo repertoire, Guleghina will make another turn in her career with her first interpretation of an opera by Richard Wagner.

This week, the soprano will make her role debut as Kundry in “Parsifal” and it marks a departure from Italian repertoire which is what Guleghina has become recognized for. The role debut comes years after being offered several Wagner operas and Guleghina noting that she was not ready to take on the composer’s music.

However, this time she will bring the interpretation to the Mariinsky Theatre, the house that saw the star soprano’s rise to fame. She will also perform alongside her mentor and friend Valery Gergiev, with whom Guleghina has had numerous triumphs.

Additionally, “Parsifal” will return after an eight-year absence at the theatre.

And if you miss the soprano’s role debut she will sing one more performance in April and will also sing a number of other opera portrayals to the Mariinsky Theatre.

Recordings 

Guleghina is a legend and there are so many great recordings from many diverse periods of her career.

Some of her most famous recordings include a DVD with Pavarotti of “Andrea Chénier,” ‘Tosca‘ with Riccardo Muti and  Salvatore Licitra, and a “Nabucco” from the Metropolitan Opera.

She also has a DVD of “Macbeth” from the Metropolitan Opera and a DVD and CD of “Manon Lescaut” from Teatro alla Scala.

Here is a clip of her legendary Abigaille from the Metropolitan Opera.

And here was a recent foray into the mezzo repertoire when she performed Eboli at the Bolshoi Theatre.