«When I’m on stage and I’m confident and familiar with the material, then I fully feel the freedom and pleasure of the process.»
When and why did you decide to become an opera singer?
When: If we speak and think more or less seriously, then on the 2nd to 3rd course of the Conservatory, when I studied in the best city in the world, my beloved St. Petersburg. (Zurich, I`m so sorry, but you`re amazing (!) too. Somehow, it reminds me of St. Petersburg, there is also a lot of water and then on top, all those grandiose mountains (wow!)!)
Why: I always wanted to sing rock, even when I studied at the music school, and I thought that having mastered opera singing it would be easy to become a rock singer (I was wrong, a bass voice in rock is not great, but at the Opera it’s still needed).
If I hadn't become an opera singer, I'd be …
Before, I always wanted to be a surgeon or history teacher. If somehow my life would change at this moment (you never know how it will turn out), I would like to work as a teacher in Kindergarten or primary school, and I’m also interested in the profession of a sports massage therapist.
Which was your most precious experience on stage so far?
Hard to tell. But it was definitely an incredibly valuable experience to participate in the two operas «Der zerbrochene Krug» and « Mavra / Iolanta» in Munich. Another incredible (!!!) and crazy (!!!) experience was the participation in the performance based on the «The Snow Maiden» by Rimsky-Korsakov at the summer festival in Munich.
… the most embarrassing moment?
In life or at the opera? If we talk about the opera – I try to forget about it, but nothing out of the ordinary. In short, as it seems to me, I could not cope with one line in one opera and was constantly doing it wrong.
… the biggest challenge?
At the opera: Anything where there is French!
At my little hobby: 109 km of running in the mountains.
And what would be your biggest dream?
There is no such things as «dream», it’s something childish. Due to my naivety as a child, I wanted people on planet Earth to stop fighting each other…
There are goals that can be achieved if there is a desire, the main thing is to step on the gas and don’t let difficulties throw you off course, and if it happens one day, the next morning again – back into the battle with yourself. Hey! You! Who reads this text: never give up!
Do you have a lucky charm or a ritual before going on stage?
No, I don't have anything like that. And in general, I don't believe in such things.
My secret weapon to prevent hoarseness:
Ohhh, the main thing is to drink Vitamin C and D, so I don't even get it. Just in case, I have the Russian tablets Laripront and Lizobact which are especially for the throat, and if it gets worse and worse, I have the very good and strong vitamins Orthomol Immun.
My idol:
I don't have one. But if we are talking about big foreign people in art I like, there are a lot of actors and directors from the cinema. I'm an incredibly big fan of cinema. For example, Jim Carrey, Quentin Tarantino and many, many others! From the bass, I really like Nikolay Gyaurov. And, Mahatma Gandhi.
Which opera character do you identify with the most and why?
Oh, I don't know why, but I really like Varlaam from the opera «Boris Godunov» by Mussorgsky.
This song speaks out of the fullness of my heart:
«Goodbye Joy, my Life» («Farewell, Happiness») (performed by Chaliapin).
Which is you favorite place in Zürich and why?
Wherever there is water. And I really like the bridge in the center.
What is your favorite word in Swiss German?
Unfortunately, there is no such word yet (unfortunately, my Swiss German is veeeeeeeery bad, I will not hide it). But, there is one word that was created by a good man, I think, without Swiss German this word would not exist. It’s «Shkugigaga», which means something funny and kind. In this word, I feel a lot of light and madness.
Oleg Davydov, bass, comes from Russia.
The twenty-seven year old has been a member of the IOS since the 19/2O season.