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

October 11, 19:00

Moscow | Zaryadye Hall

Hændel. A Dedication Ceremony to George Frideric Handel

Georg Friedrich Handel (1685–1759)

Prelude

Augelletti, ruscelletti, the aria of Maria Kleopova from the oratorio La resurrezione, HWV 47 (1708)

Zadok the Priest, Coronation Anthem No. 1, HWV 258 (1727)

Disserratevi, o porte d’Averno, the aria of Angel from the oratorio La resurrezione, HWV 47 (1708)

Ah! Crudel nel pianto mio, the aria of Armida from the opera Rinaldo, HWV 78 (1711)

Overture to the opera Agrippina, HWV 6 (1709–1710)

As with Rosy Steps the Morn, the aria of Irina from the oratorio Theodora, HWV 68 (1750)

De torrente in via bibet, duet with chorus from the psalm Dixit Dominus, HWV 232 (1707)

Oh, Let the Merry Bells Ring Round, aria with chorus from the oratorio L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV 55 (1740)

Pena tiranna, the aria of Dardano from the opera Amadigi di Gaula, HWV 11 (1715)

Eternal Source of Light Divine, fragment from the cantata Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne, HWV 74 (1713)

Alla Hornpipe, No. 2 from the orchestral suite
The Water Music No. 2 in D Major, HWV 349 (1716–1717)

He Saw the Lovely Youth, chorus from the oratorio Theodora, HWV 68 (1750)

Piangerò la sorte mia, the aria of Cleopatra from the opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17 (1724)

Ah! Stigie larve — Vaghe pupille, the recitative and aria of Orlando from the opera Orlando, HWV 31 (1733)

O Love Divine, thou Source of Fame, chorus from the oratorio Theodora, HWV 68 (1750)

Sing Ye to the Lord, chorus with solo soprano from the oratorio Israel in Egypt, HWV 54 (1739)

Performers:

artists of the Anton Rubinstein Academy
Tatiana Bikmukhametova, soprano
Yulia Vakula, mezzo-soprano
Ksenia Dorodova, soprano
Diana Nosyreva, soprano
Iveta Simonyan, soprano
Sofia Tsygankova, soprano
Andrey Nemzer, countertenor, soloist and vocal coach of the Anton Rubinstein Academy
musicAeterna Choir and Orchestra
musicAeterna Dance troupe

Music Director and Conductor Teodor Currentzis
Stage Director Elizaveta Moroz
Choirmaster Vitaly Polonsky
Assistant Conductor Evgeny Vorobyov
Production Designer, Costume Designer Sergey Illarionov
Choreographer Valentina Lutsenko

Buy Ticket

October 17, 22:30

Madrid | Auditorio Nacional de Música