Elena Manistina

Not only the winner of first prize in the 2002 Operalia Competition but also a finalist of the 2003 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, Russian mezzo-soprano Elena Manistina is well on her way to having a major career.

She has sung Lyubasha in 'The Tsar's Bride' at the Frankfurt Opera, Amneris at the Arena di Verona, 'Alexander Nevsky' at the Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste where she has been re-invited for the Verdi Requiem.

She has sung 'Jewish Folk Songs' with the San Francisco Symphony conducted by MTT, where she ..."proved a dynamo, singing with huge reserves of power and a wealth of tonal agility".

Future engagements include Ulrica at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Opera de Bordeaux, Opera du Rhin, Washington Opera and Covent Garden, Azucena in 'Trovatore' at the Liceu in Barcelona, Amneris in 'Aida' at the Opera du Avignon, Tigrana in 'Edgar' at the Teatro Comunale di Bologna and 'Rake's progress' at the Glyndebourne Festival.

She will also be singing 'Alexander Nevsky' with the City of Birmingham SO and Kashei the Immortal at the BBC Proms conducted by Vladimir Jurovsky