International Opera Singer Olga Shanina

The first concert for 2021 in the Globe Sunday Matinee series will be an important occasion for lovers of fine singing with a performance by international Russian opera singer Olga Shanina, accompanied by pianist Guy Donaldson.

Olga was born in Ulyanovsk in the family of a military pilot.
As a graduating student in the Rimsky- Korsakov St Petersburg State Conservatory, she performed the role of Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, and this was to become her signature role, having performed it over 100 times.

She has also performed leading roles in Rigoletto, Un ballo in maschera, La Boheme, Die Fledermaus, and Carmen, as well as roles in a number of Russian operas less well known in the west. In addition to her opera roles she was several times invited by the St Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic Society to perform.

Olga Shanina has been a soloist with the M.P. Mussorgsky- Mikhailovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre, and winner of numerous international competitions.

From 2004 until 2008 she was a senior lecturer at the Herzen State University Vocal Department as well as presenting master classes in Kazakhstan.

Following operatic appearances in Shanghai in 2016 Olga has had a close connection with China giving various concerts and master-classes and being a judge in the China-Russia International Music Competition in 2017. She received a government award for concert activities in Southern China and has continued to be involved as a teacher of singing in China. Her connection with New Zealand has been by way of a social-cultural exchange visit.

Guy has accompanied a number of distinguished artists including Dame Malvina Major, Anna Leese and violinist Hannah Fang, and has been a concerto soloist with the Manawatu Sinfonia. In 2013 he conducted the Manawatu Sinfonia in a programme of concertos, including two concertos with former piano students in the solo piano roles. Guy was the music director of the Renaissance Singers from 1989 to 2018.

Olga was to have performed early in the 2020 Globe Concert series following teaching in China, but Covid-19 prevented her from visiting New Zealand.

Olga’s Globe concert on February 28 with pianist Guy Donaldson will therefore be very significant. The performance will feature music by Bach as well as arias from Italian, French and Russian opera including some opera and concert favourites.

Admission is by donation, recommended from $5.