On May 1 and 3, Russian soprano Albina Shagimuratova returns to the Bolshoi Theatre for La traviata, reprising the role of Violetta Valéry in Francesca Zambello’s production. Conducted by Laurent Campellone, the performances also star Alexei Dolgov as Alfredo Germont, Violetta’s lover, and Vasily Ladyuk as Giorgio Germont, Alfredo’s father.

A noted interpreter of Verdi’s tragic heroine, Albina has earned acclaim for her account of the role. Her performances of Traviata in Houston was deemed “a genuine tour de force” by the Houston Chronicle. Likewise, Houston Culture Map wrote: “Shagimuratova changes voice and character as necessary to the action unfolding in each act, from a party gal at the beginning to a vulnerable wisp of half-dead beauty at the end.”

(Photo: Damir Yusupov)