Irina Udalova (soprano), Honoured Artist of Russia

Irina Udalova is a soloist with the Bolshoi Theatre Opera.

She was born in Nikolaevsk-on-Àmur. She gained her higher musical education in the town of Kishinev at the G. Muzichesku Arts Institute (nowadays the Conservatoire) in the singing class of the Honoured Artist Zaplechnaya Å.À. In 1978, upon her graduation from the institute she joined the opera troupe of Òurkmenian Academic Ìàhtum-Êulyh Theatre of Opera and Ballet. During her work at the theatre she sang the following parts of the Russian and West-European composers:

In 1985 Irina Udalova arrived in Moscow to take part in the soloist competition held by the Bolshoi Theatre Opera Company. She succeeded in the three successive rounds of hearings and became a member of the troupe. In this famous theatre the singer performed the following repertoire roles:

Irina Udalova participated in the new productions of these operas mounted by B.A. Pokrovsky. The opera " Prince Igor " was staged at the Karlo Felichet Theatre in Genova in 1992. This joint Russian-Italian theatre project was designed by the director B. A. Pokrovsky, conductor À. N. Lazarev, designer V. Y. Levental. Later this opera was revived on the Bolshoi Theatre stage. Working with the conductors Ì. F. Ermler, Å. F. Svetlanov, F. Sh. Ìànsurov, À. N. Chistyakov, À. N. Lazarev, À. À. Vedernikov, P. M. Sorokin, Irina Udalova sang the following roles in the Bolshoi Theatre productions:

In 1991 a compact disc (Le Chant du Monde) with the opera by À.Serov "Udiph" was produced with Udalova singing the main part.

Irina Udalova sang in the La Skala Theatre in 1990, Ìetropoliten Opera in 1991, toured Japan, France, Italy, Scotland, England, Germany, Spain, Yugoslavia, USA. In October 1996 Irina Udalova participated in the performance of the 14th symphony by Dm. Shostakovich with the orchestra conducted by M. Shostakovich. 31 On 31 December 1995 during the night of "Faust" in the Bolshoi Theatre she was informed that the rank of “Honoured Artist of Russia” had been awarded to her.