Olga Zhuravel Maselli

UPCOMING EVENTS

Four Magical Friday Nights in August 2019 - Portland, Maine
August 2, Classics of Italian Opera
August 9, Russian-Ukrainian Souvenir
August 16, Music by William Maselli
August 23, To the Classics With Love (great opera arias)
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performance highlights

Tosca, Rome Opera, Japan Tour
Turandot, Macerata, Daniele Callegari, Conductor, Pier Luigi Pizzi, Director
Manon Lescaut, Genoa Opera, Daniel Oren, Conductor, Gilbert Deflo, Director
Macbeth, Macerata, Daniele Callegari, Conductor, Pier Luigi Pizzi, Director
Sakuntala, Rome Opera, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Conductor & Director
Powder Her Face, La Fenice, Venice and Teatro Comunale, Bologna
Elegy For Young Lovers, La Fenice, Venice, Pier Luigi Pizzi, Director
Draculette, Merkin Hall, New York City
Powder Her Face, Teatro Arriaga, Bilbao, Carlos Wagner, Director

Olga Zhuravel Maselli is one of the greatest performers in the operatic and concert stages today. Born in Ukraine and now a resident in the United States, Ms. Zhuravel Maselli has performed Tosca at the Rome Opera, Turandot at the Sferisterio Opera Festival in Macerata, and Thomas Ades’ Duchess in Powder Her Face at La Fenice in Venice and Teatro Comunale in Bologna.

Ms. Zhuravel Maselli has an astonishing scope of repertoire, from her native Russian in roles such as Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Italian in roles such as Manon Lescaut, Tosca, Turandot, and Nedda, as well as great command of English contemporary compositions such as Ades’ Powder Her Face, Henza's Elegy For Young Lovers, and Maselli’s Draculette.

In addition to performances cited above, Ms. Zhuravel Maselli has performed under conductor Daniele Callegari, director Pier Luigi Pizzi, as Lady Macbeth in Macerata; under conductor Daniel Oren, director Gilbert Deflo, as Manon Lescaut in Genoa; and under conductor/director Gianluigi Gelmetti as Sakuntala by Alfano at the Rome Opera.

Ms. Zhuravel Maselli has been active on the concert stage, including performances of the Beethoven Ninth, Verdi Requiem, and Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder. Her performance of Lady Macbeth at Macerata was released on DVD by Naxos, while she has been active in the recording studio, recently recording the John F. Kennedy Requiem, Draculette, and Fall Songs, by composer William Maselli.

Nasce in Ucraina, dove compie gli studi di pianoforte, vince la borsa di studio e si diploma in direzione del coro con massimo dei voti e dopo, sempre con la borsa di studio, si laurea in canto lirico con massimo dei voti e la lode presso l’Università Statale d’Arte di Kharkov sotto la guida del soprano Lyudmila Tsurkan. Si perfeziona in Italia prima sotto la guida del baritono Gianni Maffeo e dopo all’Accademia di Osimo con degli illustri maestri quali Raina Kabaivanska, William Matteuzzi, Sergio Segalini etc.
Vincitrice di numerosi concorsi internazionali, tra cui il premio "Callas", debutta nel 2000 in Teatro Statale dell’Opera e di Balletto di Kharkov (Ucraina).

Il suo debutto internazionale avviene nel 2005 con il ruolo della Principessa Turandot in Sejong Center di Seoul in Corea del Sud (regia di Katia Ricciarelli, direttore Carlo Palleschi) e con Odabellanell'Attila a Vienna con OpernWerkstatt (regia di Paolo Trevisi, direttore Tiziano Duca).

Negli anni seguenti canta all’Opera di Roma, Sferisterio di Macerata, Carlo Felice di Genova, Comunale di Bologna, Malibran per la Fondazione Teatro La Fenice di Venezia, Auditorium Verdi di Milano, Teatri di Trento, Rovigo, Rossini di Lugo di Romagna, Chiavari, Vigoleno per la Fondazione
Arturo Toscanini, Lviv (Ucraina), Sejong Center (Corea) e Tokyo (Giappone) dove va in tournee con l’Opera di Roma .

Ha lavorato con dei registi e direttori di fama internazionale quali Pier Luigi Pizzi, Gilbert Deflo, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Daniele Callegari, Daniel Oren, Will Humburg, Gianpaolo Bisanti, Philip Walsh, Ryuichiro Sonoda ed altri
.
Ha cantato con Orchestra di Opera di Roma, Orchestra Regionale delle Marche, Orchestra del teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, Orchestra Sinfonica del Friuli Venezia Giulia, Orchestra Filarmonica Veneta, Orchestra della Fondazione Toscanini, l’Orchestra Sinfonica Verdi, Festival Orchestra di Sofia, Orchestra Filarmonica di Kharkov, Orchestra dell’Opera di Lviv etc.

Il suo repertorio include ruoli della Principessa Turandot, Lady Macbeth, Abigaille (Nabucco), Tosca, Manon Lescaut, Violetta Valery (Traviata), Odabella (Attila), Sakuntala (La leggenda di Sakuntala di Alfano), Carolina (Matrimonio segreto), Katerina (La bisbetica domata di Shebalin), Duchess (Powder her face di Thomas Ades), Countess Carolina vonKirchstätten(Elegy for young lovers di Hans Werner Henze), la parte del soprano nella IX Sinfonia di Beethoven e Draculette in opera omonima di William Maselli.

Nel 2011 si trasferisce negli Stati Uniti, dove collabora strettamente con il compositore statunitense William Maselli. In ottobre del 2014 e’ avvenuto il suo debutto ufficiale negli States nell’ambito della Prima Mondiale dell’opera Draculette di W.Maselli, in prestigioso Merkin Concert Hall di NYC, interpretando il ruolo principale di Draculette.

Repertoire:

Turnadot
Tosca
Manon Lescaut
Tatiana, Onegin
Nedda, Pagliacci
Duchess, Powder Her Face
Mimi, Boheme
Butterfly
Draculette
Iolanta
Minnie, La Fanciulla del West
Leonora, La Forza Del Destino
Suor Angelica
Giorgetta, Tabarro
Adrianna, Lecouvereur
Karolina, Elegy for Young Lovers
Russalka
Leonora, Trovatore

Olga Zhuravel in Sakuntala

concert repertoire

Beethoven 9th
Verdi Requiem
Wesendonk Lieder, Wagner
Songs Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev
JFK Requiem, Maselli

Photo Credits:
- Alfredo Tabbocchini for Turandot and Macbeth from Macerata
- Manuel Bressan for Turandot from Salsomaggiore, photos are copyright "Opera Futura" of Paolo Panizza, Salsomaggiore Terme and Terme Berzieri Salsomaggiore
- Corrado Maria Falsini and Dario Solari for Sakuntala in Rome Opera
- for "red' Lyubov Porenko and Sergey Dneprov
- Michele Crosera , Diego Bracci, Rocco Casaluci for "Powder Her Face"
- Monica Condini for Macbeth in Trento and Rovigo
- Flower by Mariam Izmaylova

Powder Her Face, in Bilbao, 2016

'I Am Wet With Blood And Dew' Finale Of Draculette by William Maselli. Premiere Concert Performance NYC

World Premiere of Draculette by William Maselli. From 1st Scene 1st Ac, Merkin Concert Hall NYC

Draculette by William Maselli - "No Man Is Going To Taste Me!" - Act I, Scene 1 Ending

View more videos featuring Olga Zhuravel
on the World Krystal YouTube Channel

Elegy for Young Lovers by Hans Werner Hanze, Act III, Scenes IV and V, Venice

Turandot from Sferisterio in Macerata

Powder her face from La Fenice in Venice

Sakuntala from Rome Opera

Tosca from Rome Opera

La Wally from Sala Arturo B. Michelangeli in Bolzano

Venetian Lament

Interview for Ukrainian TV

'Prima della Prima', transmission about Macbeth in Macerata

INTERVIEW WITH THE SOPRANO OLGA ZHURAVEL

In 2007, I met Olga Zhuravel during the performance of ‘Macbeth’ in Macerata Her interpretation of Lady Macbeth was phenomenal! ~ Andrej Dunaev

Do you have musicians in your family, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters?
No, nobody in my family is professional musician, but everybody is singing and since I was child we used to sing all together polyphonically popular Russian and Ukrainian songs.

How was your youth? Were you interested in music? Did you sing in a chorus?
I always loved singing. In my family they say that I started singing before speaking. When l was 5 years old I was taken to the musical school in Komsomolsk (Ukraine) where I was born. I studied at that school the piano, solfeggio, theory and literature of music until 16 years old. After that I had for 4 years scholarship in Gadyach College of the Culture where I studied to become the Chorus Conductor and Teacher of Music. And yes, I was singing in chorus since I was a little girl!

When did you decide to become an opera singer? Was it by coincidence or after you attended an opera performance?
I don't remember exactly when I decided to be a real opera singer. I just know that I always wanted to sing and since my favorite music was operetta. I suppose I was thinking about classical singing rather than other kind of singing. But I remember that after my degree in College I had an audition in Kiev Conservatory, where they sent me from my College and that they were going to take me there, but because of the bad ecological situation after Chernobyl tragedy, the radiation level in Kiev was too high than and I was feeling bad staying there, so my family and I decided to have the admission competition in Kharkov University of Art where they gave me scholarship for 7 years and where I had my degree in Opera and Chamber Singing and Voice Teaching in 2002. And while I was studying in Kharkov, I finally had opportunity to listen to the life opera performances in the real Opera Theater!

Did you go to a school of music? Where did you study and whom were your professors?
My professors for singing at the University were Honored Artist of Ukraine as soprano Lyudmila Tsurkan and Svetlana Klebanova. ln ltaly I studied with the baritoneGianni Maffeo and for some period I was a student at the Osimo Opera Academy where I had teachers like Raina Kabaivanska, William Matteuzzi, Sergio Segalini, Antonio Juvarra etc.

In what opera did you début? When and where did you start?
My debut in Ukraine was in Kharkov National Opera and Ballet Theater with the Opera Studio Company in 2000. I sang the role of Serpolette at the comic opera "Les clochesde Corneville" by R. Planquette (in Russian). With the same company from 2000 to 2002 I sang also the role of Carolina in "Matrimonio segreto" by Cimarosa. My International debut happened in 2005 in Seoul (South Korea) at Sejong Center in the role of Principessa Turandot in Puccini's opera, directed by Katia Ricciarelli and conducted by Carlo Palleschi.

Olga Zhuravel

Olga Zhuravel in Sakuntala

Olga Zhuravel

You have built up your repertoire. What characters did you interpret? Where did you sing these roles and with which maestro did you work together?
I sang mostly very strong characters like Principessa Turandot, Tosca, Manon Lescaut by Puccini, Lady Macbeth, Abigaille, Traviata, Odabella by Verdi, Sakuntala by AIfano, Duchess of Argyll from "Powder her face" by Ades. I used to sing these roles in Rome Opera, Arena Sferisterio in Macerata, Carlo Felice Theater in Genoa, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, Rossini Theater in Lugo, Malibran Theater in Venice and others. I was directed by great Pier Luigi Pizzi, Gilbert Deflo, Katia Ricciarelli, Andrea de Rosa and others. And I was conducted by Danielle Callegari, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Daniel Oren, Gianpaolo Bisanti, Philip Walsh, Ryuichiro Sonoda and others.

What are the operas you would like to sing in the future?
I would love to sing Tatiana from ‘Onegin’ and ‘Iolanta’ by Tchaykovsky, Elsa from ‘Lohengrin’.

During your career, have you refused to sing an opera and why?
Yes, I did. For many times I refused to sing Salome because I don't feel it is a appropriate part for my vocal cords right now. Maybe later, but not now.

Are there artists and singers you admire and you are taking as an example?
I admire a lot of singers for different qualities, no matter man or woman, but I don't have an icon that I follow or take like example.

What is your point of view about the actual and modern stage-managements? Do you agree or do you prefer the traditional productions?

Oh, I am old fashion and I love the traditions. The modern productions have full rights to stay on the stage, of course, but without exaggerations or strange inappropriate things, I think.

As godfather of the Maria Callas Connexion I would like to know your opinion on La Callas .
The Great Maria! La Divina!! I love her! I love her like an artist and a singer, and I love her great personality. Everything about Maria is great! Thanks to her the history of the opera is more complete and real! Grande Donna and Grande Artista!

What are your plans for the future?
I n March/April 2014 I will be singing in Venice for the Fondazione La Fenice the opera by Henze ‘Elegy for young lovers’, directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi. ln October we'll have the great event in New York! There will be the World Premiere of the opera "Draculette" written by my dearest husband, American composer William Maselli. I'll be singing the main role. And in between of these two big events we will record some new music written by my husband, particularly the Cycle of songs written on the lyrics of the most important Ukrainian poets, translated in English.

Do you have some personal comments to add. What do you advise young talented singers ?
O h.... I don't know... General advice is always easy to give, but usually they don't mean anything. Only a few things I would like to say to the young singers: never give up, always have a hope in the best, don't criticize your colleagues and study, study, study!

Many thanks in advance for your kind cooperation. Of course, we wish you all the best for the future and we hope to meet you very soon.
Thank you very much! lt was a great pleasure to answer your questions! Spare best wishes!

"Powder her face", Bilbao, Teatro Arriaga, May, 2016

www.artezblai.com

"El rol de la duquesa de Argyll lo interpreta la soprano ucraniana pero con nacionalidad estadounidense Olga Zhuravel, una artista de gran capaz de interpretar distintos repertorios y que pronto debutará en el Carnegie Hall de Nueva York."

www.ninodentici.com

"El trabajo de la soprano Olga Zhuravel resultó muy profesional y dominó la escena desde su gigante polvera de la que casi ni salió."

www.hoyesarte.com

"Olga Zhuravel interpreta el papel de Margaret, mostrando una dimensión de dignidad trágica y una cierta compasión para la protagonista."

www.deia.com

"Interprete nagusien taldea ere lehen mailakoa da, kalitate bikaineko nazioarteko lau ahotsek osatua. Argylleko dukesaren rola Estatu Batuetako nazionalitatea duen Olga Zhuravel soprano ukrainarrak betetzen du, mota guztietako errepertorioak interpretatzeko gai den moldakortasun handiko artistak. Denbora gutxi barru debutatuko du New Yorkeko Carnegie Hall aretoan."

"Elegy for young lovers" by Henze, Venice, March, 2014

www.gbopera.com

"Totalmente nel ruolo Olga Zhuravel, una Carolina von Kirchstetten, acida con tutti quanto ligia nel tutelare la maniacale ritualità che scandisce l’esistenza dell’idolatrato Maestro, bravissima nel far cogliere il proprio dissidio interiore di donna schiavizzata dal suo cinico protegé, rosa dal segreto rimpianto di non aver conosciuto l’amore. Notevole la sua interpretazione nella scena dello svenimento rivelatore."

"Powder her face", La Fenice in Venice, April-May 2012

www.linternaute.com - Helene Sadaune

"Le cast est composé d'Olga Zhuravel dans le role de la duchesse (très digne dans le role de la duchesse)..."

Corriere della sera - Enrico Girardi

"...dall'eccellente protagonista Olga Zhuravel."

IL GAZZETTINO - Mario Messinis

"La protagonista Olga Zhuravel domina in scena con aristocratica eleganza."

www.operalibera.net - Lukas Franceschini

"La protagonista, Olga Zhuravel, e' dotata di una voce pertinente atta a risolvere la scrittura vocale con grande pathos, in particolare sono emblematici gli accenti nell'aria finale. Inoltre e' interprete eccellente grazie ad un fraseggio variegato e ad = una figura bellissima ed elegante.."

www.gbopera.it - Roberto Campanella

"Grande presenza scenica hanno dimostrato, oltre al phisique du role, le due interpreti femminili, Olga Zhuravel e Zuzana Markova.. Entrambe le voci si sono dimostrate a loro agio affrontando la essitura esasperata della propria parte con precisione, agilita', intensita' espressiva. Piu' enfatica la Zhuravel a rendere la tragicita' che traspare sotto l'apparente sfrenato edonismo nel personaggio a lei affidato."

www.operaclick.com

"Buona nell'insieme la compania di canto, nella quale spicca la Duchessa vanamente altera ad al contempo disperatamente inadeguata alla vita di Olga Zhuravel, dominatrice assoluta del ruolo grazie ad una voce di straordinaria suadenza e ad una grande padronanza scenica."

www.asterisconet.it - Fabrizio Stelluto

"La Duchessa del soprano ucraino Olga Zhuravel e' impeccabile sia nei momenti di erotismo, affrontati con elegante nonchalance, sia in quelli della solitudine e dell'abbandono. L'impegno vocale, indubbiamente severo, la trova sempre pronta e all'altezza. La presenza scenica e' quella che deve possedere una nobildonna in cui orgoglio di classe e sfrenata passionalita' hanno sempre convissuto."

L'Opera - Roberto Mori
"Nel cast, Olga Zhuravel è stata una duchessa ideale per physique du rôle, espressiva e analitica nel fraseggio"

"Powder her face", Teatro Rossini, Lugo, April, 2010

www.unavocepocofa.com - Athos Tromboni
"El personaje de la duquesa fue confiado a la soprano Olga Zhuravel, muy buena en la caracterización y en el canto"

L'Opera - Claudia Mambelli
"...ogni entrata in scena della Duchessa ben raccontata dalla voce sopranile di Olga Zhuravel che, anche se non particolarmente drammatica, risolve la scrittura vocale nella suggestiva aria del commiato, evocatrice dello spettro della contessa nel Capriccio straussiano, e' comunque ricca di ombreggiature e chiaroscuri nel fraseggio un po' distaccato e ironicamente aristocratico, ne' troppo luminoso, ne' troppo affettuoso, ma che comunque trova un interprete di rango grazie anche a un sex-appeal e a un'eleganza innata valorizzata dalle strepitose toilette firmate da Pizzi."

"Turandot", Sferisterio Opera Festival, July-August 2006

www.viveremarche.it

"Molto buona la prova di Olga Zhuravel, interprete giovane ma interessante, dotata di un'ottima presenza scenica."

...principessa dolce e fragile, lontana dal cliché crudele e freddo, è un ruolo che le si addice molto. Anche per la sorpresa di ammirare una cantante tanto esile in un ruolo spesso interpretato da soprani meno avvenenti.

Il Giornale - Paolo Scotti

"Quante pachidermiche Turandot, sensuali come balene e vestite come carri da carnevale abbiamo finto di non vedere prima di ammirare Olga Zhuravel, soprano dotata non solo di una voceduttile e in crescita, ma del fisico da vamp che t'aspetti in una fatale principessa, esaltato da regali tuniche di strass?... Rapinoso il canto della Zhuravel."

www.alfabeticaedizioni.it

"Olga Zhuravel e' stata la seducente Turandot del Festival 2006."

www.teatro.org

"Nel ruolo principale ha cantato Olga Zhuravel, una vocalità forse non proprio da Turandot per colore, ma buona prestazione, fino in fondo convincente."

L'Opera - Nicola Salmoiraghi
"...La giovane Olga Zhuravel, flessuosa e affascinante, è Turandot. Schietta ed educata voce di soprano lirico, canta bene, con gusto, accenti e intenzioni adeguate..."

"Tosca", Siena, August 2006

www.operaclick.com - Davide Toschi

Olga Zhuravel dà carattere a Tosca con un’ottima interpretazione attoriale e buona sotto il profilo vocale. Il suo timbro metallico può piacere più o meno, ma il canto è corretto e intonato e l’espressione intensa di certe frasi determina un risultato ampiamente positivo

"Traviata", Chiavari, 2008

www.ilsecoloxax.it - Fabio Guidoni

"Grande prestazione del soprano Olga Zhuravel, ucraina di nascita, che ha impersonificato Violetta Valery, giovane e bella donna nei salotti parigini di metà Ottocento."

"Macbeth", Sferisterio Opera Festival, 2007

www.teatro.org - = Francesco Rapaccioni

"Olga Zhuravel è una erinnica Lady, flessuosa e infingarda come un gatto, che nel quarto atto incanutisce improvvisamente, una figura molto efficace, dalla voce potente e piena."

"Macbeth" DVD

www.amazon.com

"Olga Zhuravel as Lady Macbeth is a wonderful actress. I would even say "fantastic." She's a bit over the top but the role almost demands it. She has all the notes and is fun to watch."

"The Lady Macbeth is easy to hear, with decent coloratura, excellent diction, a voice that is not pretty, but is big enough to be effective for the character, and she looks great. Her angular look along with the costumes makes her the quintessential villainess."

"Olga Zhuravel's Lady Macbeth seems to be set permanently on hyperdrive. Looking like a cross between David Bowie and Morticia Adams, she blazes through her first two arias, "Vieni t'affretta" and "La luce langue," with a powerful, spinning soprano and shimmering top notes".