On Dec. 7, 2018, the Teatro alla Scala will open its 2018-19 season with a new production of “Attila” by Davide Livermore. The company lined up a cast that features veterans and rising stars and a star conductor.

One of the stars in the lineup is none other than Ildar Abdrazakov, who will sing the title role for the first time with the company.

To celebrate opening night we have decided to take a look back at Abdrazakov’s long history with the company.

La Sonnambula

After winning the Maria Callas International Television Competition in Parma, Abdrazakov would end up making his debut in Bellini’s opera. In January of 2001, the bass sang the role of Rodolfo alongside Stefania Bonfadelli. Maurizio Benini would conduct the performances

La Forza del Destino 

Abdrazakov returned on Sept. 20, 2001 with the Mariinsky Theatre and performed the role of Marchesse di Calatrava. Valery Gergiev led an all-Russian cast throughout the run.

Macbeth 

That same season Abdrazakov sang two performances of Verdi’s early masterpiece in the role of Banquo alongside Leo Nucci and the Lady Macbeth’s of Paoletta Marrocu and Maria Guleghina. Riccardo Muti conducted the performances.

Samson et Dalila

In February 2002, the bass returned with Placido Domingo and Olga Borodina for Saint-Saens opera performing his first full run in an opera with the company. Abrazakov sang the role of Abimelech with Gary Bertini conducting. The production was presented by La Scala, but was given at the Teatro Carlo Felice and recorded for TV on Rai. Here is the full production:

Iphigenie en Aulide

Riccardo Muti conducted Gluck’s masterpiece to open the 2002-03 season and marked Abdrazakov’s first opening night with the company. For the production, he sang the role of Calcante alongside a cast that included Violetta Urmana, Daniela Barcellona, Genia Kuhmeier.

Fidelio 

The same season he returned to portray the role of Don Fernando in Beethoven’s only opera. Riccardo Muti conducted the cast, which starred Waltraud Meier and Robert Dean Smith. Werner Herzog directed the production. Abdrazakov would sing six performances.

Macbeth

In August 2003, Abdrazakov reprised his role as Banco alongside Nucci and Marrocu in the title roles. Salvatore Licitra rounded out the cast with Muti conducting Graham Vick’s production.

Moise et Pharaon, Ou Le Passage

To open the 2033-04 season Abdrazakov was given the title role in Rossini’s rarely performed work. The bass headlined the new production by Luca Ronconi with Riccardo Muti conducting a cast that included Barbara Fritolli, Giuseppe Filianoti, Sonia Ganassi, and Erwin Schrott. The performance was recorded and released on DVD later on.

Carmen 

In June 2004 the bass sang the role of Escamillo with Julia Gertseva’s Carmen and Walter Fraccaro as Don Jose. Michel Plasson conducted the summer performances.

Lucia Di Lammermoor

Two years later Abdrazakov returned for Donizetti’s masterpiece with Roberto Abbado conducting the production. Mariella Devia, Giuseppe Filianoti, and Ludovic Tezier starred.

Macbeth 

In 2008, the bass reprised his Banco for the third time with the theater. Performances scheduled for April 2008 starred Nucci and Urmana in the title roles. Kazushi Ono conducted.

Les Contes d’Hoffman 

In January of 2012, Robert Carsen’s famed production returned to La Scala with Abdrazakov playing the four villains alongside Ramón Vargas’ Hoffmann, Rachel Gilmore as Olympia, Ekaterina Gubanova as Nicklaus, Veronica Simeoni as Giuletta, and Genia Kuhmeir as Antonia. Marko Letonia conducted.

Le Nozze di Figaro 

The same season the bass sang the title role in Mozart’s masterpiece alongside Aleksandra Kurzak and Pietro Spagnoli. Dorothea Roschmann also starred with Andrea Basttioni conducting.

Don Carlo

In the 2016-17 season, Abdrazakov would appear as Filippo alongside Francesco Meli, Krassimira Stoyanova, Ekaterina Semenchuk, and Eric Halvarson in Peter Stein’s Salzburg production. Myung Whun-Chung conducted the production.

Ernani 

Abdrazvakov’s most recent assignment at La Scala was as Silva in Verdi’s early masterpiece in September 2018. The new production also starred Ailyn Pérez, Luca Salsi and Francesco Meli and was conducted by Adam Fisch.

Attila 

Now he opens the Teatro alla Scala for the third time in his second title role with the company. This time he sings one of his signature roles, which he has brought to the Liceu, the Metropolitan Opera, and Mariinsky Theatre among others. The cast also includes Fabio Sartori, Saioa Hernandez, George Petean. Music director Riccardo Chailly conducts.