Abdrazakov

If opera worked like Broadway, the name on the marquee closest to Ms. Netrebko's might be fellow Russian Ildar Abdrazakov, the commanding bass and Met veteran who sings the role of Henry VIII with icy force.

A Philadelphia Son Storms the Met Pia Catton 2011

"It's thrilling to walk through the rehearsal rooms and have three of the greatest bass-baritones right now rehearsing under the same roof — Bryn Terfel, Ren é Pape, Ildar Abdrazakov," said Met general manager Peter Gelb.

Taking Flight With the Met Pia Catton 2010

Abdrazakov, as Figaro (the Count's valet), sang technically better than Rhodes but with less flair: appropriate, perhaps, to his character's servile status, but surprising in a singer with such a burgeoning profile.

Opera Review: WNO's satisfying 'Marriage of Figaro' 2010

Neither Teddy Tahu Rhodes nor Ildar Abdrazakov yet has the stature of a Placido Domingo or Renée Fleming, but both are well known in the field and have sung a lot in Washington, and Abdrazakov, in particular, is getting more and more high-profile roles (he just sang the title role of the Metropolitan Opera's new "Attila").

Opera Review: WNO's satisfying 'Marriage of Figaro' 2010

I have seen other Count-Figaro pairings where the tension between the two singers becomes a driving force in the drama; Abdrazakov, though, was simply obedient to the role, and filled its demands very well.

Opera Review: WNO's satisfying 'Marriage of Figaro' 2010

Anna Netrebko takes the queenly title role (a specialty of Maria Callas), leading a cast that also includes such impressive talents as Ekaterina Gubanova, Tamara Mumford, Stephen Costello, and Ildar Abdrazakov (as Henry VIII); Marco Armiliato, the company's house specialist in things Italian, conducts.

The New Yorker NewYorker.com 2011

The Met has similarly been grooming the bass Ildar Abdrazakov, who sang Enrico Henry VIII, but on Monday he was a youthful cipher of no particular vocal impact, rather than a scene-chewing villain.

The Washington Post: National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines - The Washington Post Anne Midgette 2011

Matching Netrebko in force of personality, bass-baritone Ildar Abdrazakov made Henry a figure of insistent romantic ardor with Giovanna and unremitting hostility with Anna.

The Seattle Times 2011

Ultimately, the scenes that so often failed to ignite involved Ildar Abdrazakov as Henry and Ekaterina Gubanova, a curiously mousy Jane Seymour.

BusinessWeek.com -- Top News 2011

Abdrazakov probably had the most affinity for his difficult music, despite a weak bottom range, but the mezzo's metallic timbre was utterly wrong for Jane's melting phrases.

BusinessWeek.com -- Top News 2011