Article for the project “Russian Culture: View from abroad”. Opera singer Diana Skavronskaya
Diana Skavronskaya wants to bring love and light to people, which is especially important today, when the world is in a twilight state.
She lives for music, and her voice, a precious gift from God, helps her create a miracle of art.
Diana was born in Tashkent, the sunny capital of Uzbekistan in the heart of Central Asia. Already in her early year, she felt a creative calling. At the age of eleven, she won her first international vocal competition. While also being interested in ballet — Diana was a soloist of the ballet "The Princess" and the central figure in the show project from a young age — her true passion was opera singing. Through her natural talent and perseverance, she soon found success on the path she had chosen.
Undoubtedly, teachers and mentors play a significant role in shaping and molding an artist. Among them stood the remarkable opera instructor at the Tashkent State Conservatory, People's Artist of Uzbekistan, Professor Mukaddas Nishanova Rizayeva. Diana met her when she was thirteen years old. During the audition, Diana delivered a capella rendition of the renowned "Hello, Dolly" from the musical of the same name. Accompanying her performance with dance moves, stomping, imitating bass and falsetto, she concluded her performance with a powerfully delivered jazzy finale in the spirit of Ella Fitzgerald. Professor Rizayeva's response to this impressive display was rather calm. But she expressed a preference for Diana to evolve into an opera singer rather than a musical performer. The first years of Diana's education were dedicated to the study of bel canto, a singing technique originating in 18th-century Italy that remains relevant to this day.
Following a period of fruitful studies with Professor Rizaeva, Diana waved goodbye to her "star" childhood and relocated to Moscow. There, she pursued her education at the college within the esteemed Ippolitov-Ivanov State Music Pedagogical Institute, under the tutelage of the Honored Artist of Russia, Professor Vera Nebolsina. Vera Nikolaevna invested a lot of effort and patience into her protegé, meticulously preparing Diana for the International Competition named after M. M. Ippolitov- Ivanov. Diana won the first prize there, captivating the jury with the beauty of her voice, vibrant musicality, and an impressive stage artistry.
During this competition, Professor Galina Pisarenko of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, a People's Artist of Russia, had the opportunity to hear Diana. Impressed by Diana's significant success, Professor Pisarenko recommended that she enrol at the Moscow Conservatory after graduating from college. Following successful auditions and entrance exams, Diana Skavronskaya found herself in Professor Pisarenko's class.
Learning to sing opera is akin to a fascinating journey into a magical land. Diana cherishes the five years she spent at the Conservatory. An intensive period brimming with classes, concerts, performances, and the exploration of foreign languages laid the groundwork for Diana Skavronskaya's professionalism.
Tatyana from the opera Eugene Onegin held a special place in Diana's heart as her first and cherished role. She first performed it at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow she was still a student. Performing a duet with Konstantin Artemiev, now a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, they conveyed the full spectrum of emotions within their characters. The title role of Tatyana was Diana Skavronskaya's graduation work. The sold-out performance in the Great Hall of the Moscow
Conservatory marked a triumphant moment for the emerging star, as the audience burst in applause after the scenes of Tatyana's letter and the final encounter between Tatyana and Onegin.
Galina Pisarenko said at the time: "Diana, you are born to play Tatyana, you have a wonderful combination of the actor's gift, a strong, sincere and very beautiful voice! Go ahead, my dear! Conquer the world! You can do it!"
Diana's vocal mentor at the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Center was Makvala Kasrashvili, the head of the Bolshoi Theatre's opera troupe—a luminary on the world's opera stages. Praising Diana as one of her most commendable students, Kasrashvili remarked, "She is one of those rare opera singers whom every opera house would consider an honor to have. Not just for her extraordinary ability to captivate the audience with her singing, but also for her splendid acting skills, heightened sensitivity, and profound respect for all aspects of opera production. She discerns nuances that often escape other opera singers."
Diana had a fortune to work with Dmitry Vdovin, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre Youth Opera Company. Their paths crossed at the Yuri Bashmet Winter Festival in Sochi, a selective event where only the best of the best were chosen from hundreds of auditions. Among the multitude of young artists, only twelve were selected to participate in the festival.
The decision to relocate to the United States was driven by the ambition to launch an international career—a journey, undoubtedly challenging.
Despite encountering numerous obstacles, the experience rounded up with unforgettable impressions and significant accomplishments.
Diana Skavronskaya is an active presence in San Francisco, where her performances, featuring top vocalists and accompanists, stand as cultural highlights in the city's vibrant cultural landscape.
In October of this year, Carnegie Hall's main stage, the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, hosted a concert dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninoff's birth. The event was orchestrated by the Cultural Exchange Foundation, presided over by Maestro Constantine Orbelian, the Principal Conductor of the New York City Opera.
The concert went with a full hall to a standing ovation from the audience.
Diana found immense joy in performing Rachmaninoff's beautiful compositions, skillfully conveying the entire spectrum of emotional states—from quiet sadness to the raptures of love. Maestro Orbelian acknowledged Diana's performance, stating, "Diana Skavronskaya possesses an extraordinary vocal timbre and robust energy—key elements for a prosperous career. I am confident that her exceptional vocal talent, unwavering dedication, and charismatic presence will propel her to the pinnacle of professionalism."
Having achieved considerable success, Diana Skavronskaya continues to strive for new horizons. Given her fervent passion and dedication, there is no doubt she will be sure to achieve them.
Texts: Nathalie Holzmüller, Pavel Fokin, Press Service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Layout and design: Tatiana Bukina, Ilya Provorov
Photo: ©Press-service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, press-service of the Moscow Musical Theater, V.I. Dahl State Museum of Fine Arts, Vorovsky Sanatorium. Vorovsky; Alexander Shapunov, Mikhail Vilchuk ©Mariinsky Theatre, Wiener Staatsballett/Ashley Taylor, Veronique Kherian ©Pocket opera