Altos

Natalia Ryabikova

in the choir since 2022

Natalia Ryabikova graduated from the St. Petersburg Culture Committee Musical Lyceum and the St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture with a degree in Choral Conducting. From 2008 to 2022 she worked as a choir artist at the St. Petersburg State Theatre of Musical Comedy. Since 2020, she has been singing in the Vox vocal ensemble specializing in Renaissance music performance.

WHEN DID YOU REALISE YOU WERE GOING TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?

When I was 6 years old, I asked my mother to take me to a music school. In high school, it became clear that I was seriously in love with choral singing, and it could become my profession. My mother was worried that it was difficult to build a career with music education, and the only possible future for me was singing in the subway. Gradually, my mother's fears dissipated, but she made me study guitar just in case.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST PERFORMANCE WITH MUSICAETERNA?

I worked in the Musical Comedy Theatre — I sang in the choir in operettas and musicals. For my first concert as a guest artist at musicAeterna, I had to learn a part from Alfred Schnittke's Choral Concerto. It was a risky undertaking — to learn music of the 20th century between going on stage in repertoire performances, before and after work. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it, but it worked out well. After the audition, I was invited to tour Yerevan, and soon I went on tour with the choir with Verdi's Requiem. 'This amount of touring is just about right for me,' I thought.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I like travelling very much! I'm one of those musicians who looks forward to touring with impatience and joy. I visited Iceland during the eruption of the Fagradalsfjadl volcano, walked a third of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and I dream of returning to this pilgrimage path. I even visited the grave of Count Dracula in Romania. My place of power is Finland, Lappeenranta. I've been there thirty times and I really miss this country now.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC?

Besides musicAeterna, I sing in a church choir. If a big holiday falls on a time when I'm away, for example, on tour, I try to join the local choir to sing the festive service.

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY BESIDES MUSIC?

I have five nephews and nieces. One of them is studying harp at a music school. It's so touching to watch a little girl playing such a big instrument. Did you know that there are no harps for children? They have been practicing the 'adult' harp since the first grade, sitting on a mountain of books in order to add in height. I love my nephews very much and act as a fairy godmother — I bring a lot of gifts with me on every visit.

musicAeterna choir events

November 11, 20:00

St. Petersburg | Nevsky, 62

The musicAeterna Choir and Timofey Golberg

Choral concert

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December 9, 20:00

St. Petersburg | Great Hall of the Philharmonic

Teodor Currentzis and musicAeterna. Tchemberdji, Wagner

Symphony concert

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