Sopranos

Elena Yurchenko

In the choir since 2011

Elena Yurchenko is a laureate of the Bella Voce international competition (Moscow).

Elena Yurchenko was born in Novosibirsk. She is a graduate of the Glinka Novosibirsk State Conservatory (solo vocals; class of prof. N.I. Lubyanovskaya). She has a Master’s degree in music arts. During her studies, Elena sang the parts of Tatiana (“Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky), Mimi (“La bohème” by Puccini), Iolanta (“Iolanta” by Tchaikovsky) and Stéphano (“Roméo et Juliette” by Gounod). She took part in the “Soul of Japan” International festival (Moscow) and in a master class by professor Akiko Mibe. As a soloist, she was a regular participant of orchestra, vocal, choral and organ concerts at the conservatory.

In 2007, Elena Yurchenko worked at the Moscow State Children’s Music Theatre directed by Gennadiy Chikhachev. In 2008–2011, she was a member of the New Siberian singers choir at the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre, where she sang Frasquita’s part in “Carmen” by Bizet.

In 2011, Elena became a member of the musicAeterna choir at the Perm State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Her repertoire included the following parts: Mercédès (“Carmen” by Bizet), Laura (“Iolanta” by Tchaikovsky), Tatar (“One Day of Ivan Denisovich” by A. Tchaikovsky), Charmion (“Cléopâtre” by Massenet), Hofmeisteress (“Twelve Months” by Banevich), Polovets Girl (“Prince Igor” by Borodin) and Annina (“Traviata” by Verdi). She sang the soprano parts in Nikolaev’s “Gereven” ballet and Dusapin’s “Medeamaterial” opera. Elena was a regular participant of vocal chamber concerts at the Perm State Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Perm Art Gallery and the “Triumph” philharmonic, and she also performed as a soloist in choral music pieces.

Since 2019, Elena Yurchenko has been a member of the musicAeterna choir in Saint Petersburg.

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE A MUSICIAN?

I come from a musical family. My grandparents and my mother used to sing and play the accordion all the time. My mom worked at the opera theatre, so I’ve been watching and listening to operas and ballets since childhood. In a word, music has always been a huge part of my life, so it’s no surprise that I chose to enter music school (where I learned to play the piano), then went to music and teaching college (where I studied the basics of choir singing and choir conducting), and eventually became a student of the conservatory, which gave me the specialty of a soloist singer. I cannot imagine my life without music anymore.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL WHEN GOING UP ON STAGE?

Aside from the anxiety which everyone feels at those moments, I feel delighted and eager to play beautiful, thought-provoking music that will make the audience happy. I also feel proud to represent Russia when performing abroad, and I’m happy to expose the audience to new, modern music.

DOES IT MATTER TO YOU WHO YOUR LISTENERS ARE?

No matter if the venue is sold out or if there’s just one listener, no matter if I’m performing for the sophisticated audience at the Salzburg festival or for regular listeners at a smaller concert, I will always strive to give my 100%. Famous director Peter Sellars once told us we should dedicate each performance to someone in our minds. It does introduce a new sense and new emotions into the performance, and it allows us to exchange some sort of energy with the audience.

WHAT MAKES MUSICAETERNA DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CHOIRS?

First of all, it’s the singers’ professionalism. Although the troupe is comprised of young musicians, each has excellent education and rich creative experience. What’s more, this ensemble has wonderful vibes going on: there is some sort of emotional connection between all of us here. Of course, Teodor plays a big part in that. He is the spiritual and emotional foundation of our troupe, its energy source and guardian. He nurtures us with new emotions and reveals new facets of music to us. We are all on the same wavelength. It isn’t a troupe where people treat music simply as a job. It is like a big family where everyone is happy to meet each other, communicate, play music, and bring wonderful emotions to the listeners. It’s easy to work when everyone understands each other.

musicAeterna choir events

June 1, 21:00

St. Petersburg | Hermitage Museum

The musicAeterna Orchestra and Choir. Ars Vivendi

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683–1764)
The thunderstorm scene from Act II of the opera-ballet Platée ou Junon jalouse (1745)
Act IV, Scene 4: Entry of the muse Polyhymnia from the lyrical tragedy Abaris ou les Boreades (1763)
Tambourines I, II from the prologue to the lyrical tragedy Dardanus (1739)

Antonio Lotti (1667–1740)
Crucifixus a 8 voci from Credo in F Major (before 1717)

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
Concerto for Cello and Strings in C Minor, RV 401 (late 1720s)

Allegro non molto
Adagio
Allegro ma non molto

The soloist Rabbani Aldangor

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
Ombra mai fu (There was never a shadow), aria of Xerxes from Act I of the opera Xerxes, HWV 40 (1738)
The soloist Andrey Nemzer, countertenor
Furie terribili! (Terrible Furies!), aria of Armida from Act I of the opera Rinaldo, HWV 7a (1711/1731)
The soloist Elizaveta Sveshnikova, soprano
Piangerò la sorte mia (I will mourn my fate), aria of Cleopatra from Act III of the opera Julius Caesar, HWV 17, (1724)
The soloist Elizaveta Sveshnikova, soprano
Venti, turbini (Winds, whirlwinds), aria of Rinaldo from Act I of the opera Rinaldo, HWV 7a (1711/1731)
The soloist Andrey Nemzer, countertenor

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Komm, Jesu, komm (Come, Jesus, come), motet for double choir in G minor, BWV 229 (before 1731–1732)
Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden (Praise the Lord, all ye nations), motet for four-voice choir, dubbing instruments and basso continuo in C major, BWV 230 (n.d.)
Erbarme dich, mein Gott (Have mercy, my God), aria of the alto No. 39 (47) from the sacred oratorio St Matthew Passion, BWV 244 (1727–1729/1736)
Soloists:
Andrey Nemzer, countertenor
Vladislav Pesin, violin

George Frideric Handel
Lascia la spina, cogli la rosa (Leave the thorn, pluck the rose), aria of Pleasure from Act II of the oratorio The Triumph of Time and Disillusion, HWV 46a (1707)
Soloists:
Elizaveta Sveshnikova, soprano
Andrey Nemzer, countertenor

Jean-Philippe Rameau
Les Sauvages/Forêts paisibles (The Savages/Peaceful Forests) from Act IV of the opera-ballet The Gallant Indies, (1725/1736)

Duration: 60 minutes

Sold out

June 2, 19:00

St. Petersburg | Hermitage Museum

The musicAeterna Orchestra and Choir. Ars Vivendi

Antonio Lotti (1667–1740)
Crucifixus a 8 voci from Credo in F Major (before 1717)

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741)
Concerto for Cello and Strings in C Minor, RV 401 (late 1720s)

Allegro non molto
Adagio
Allegro ma non molto

The soloist Rabbani Aldangor

Jean-Philippe Rameau
Les Sauvages/Forêts paisibles (The Savages/Peaceful Forests) from Act IV of the opera-ballet The Gallant Indies, (1725/1736)

Duration: 60 minutes

Sold out

An event of Diaghilev Festival

June 20, 19:00

Perm | Great Hall of the Perm Philharmonic

Concert of musicAeterna: Bach