A graduate of the master’s program of Arizona State University (USA), specializing in Opera Singing, finalist of the regional stage of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions competition (2006, USA) Yevgeni Chainikov is actively mastering the opera house’s repertoire. Among the particularly memorable portrayals created by Yevgeni Chainikov at the Astana Opera – Zhirenshe in the opera Abai by A.Zhubanov – L. Khamidi, Scarpia in the opera Toscaby G. Puccini, Amonasro in the opera Aidaby G. Verdi. The new hero in his repertoire is Sharpless, the United States consul at Nagasaki.

“I started working on this part at a very young age, wanted to sing it for a long time. Nevertheless, in order to feel and understand my character, inner maturity is a must. With age, I began to rethink the opera Madama Butterfly. It is a very touching story. I see Sharpless, as, first of all, humane, paternal, and caring. He warns Pinkerton not to play with love, because then young Butterfly would begin to trust him and truly fall in love with him, which is exactly what happens afterwards. Sharpless can only observe it all from the outside, empathizing with the title character. At the moment I am working not only on the vocals, but also on the character portrayal. I watched many different world productions, and I try to find the fine line not to overplay and to not seem implausible,” shared Yevgeni Chainikov.

It is interesting that ever since the premiere, for a year already, the son of Yevgeni Chainikov– Nikita Chainikov participates in this production, he plays the role of Butterfly’s son.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/tsm/press/news/details/29533?lang=kk