Aigul
Akhmetshina
Mezzo Soprano

Bio

Represented by
Simon Millward
Premier Press & Public Relations
simon.millward@premiercomms.com
Decca Classics
Recording Label
Representation
Worldwide Exclusive
A Decca Classics recording artist, Aigul Akhmetshina begins her 2025–26 season with a return to the Arena di Verona as Carmen, followed by Fenena in a new production of Nabucco.

Later this season, she makes her role debut as Isabella L’Italiana in Algeri at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and returns as Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, and Bayerische Staatsoper. She also performs Carmen in concert at the Tiroler Festspiele Erl in Austria.

Akhmetshina also debuts as Dalila Samson et Dalila at both the the Royal Ballet and Opera and Staatsoper Berlin, and appears as Adalgisa Norma at the Bayerische Staatsoper.

In concert, she presents a recital programme at Den Norske Opera & Ballett in Oslo, at Teatro Colón Buenos Aires, and at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, performs gala concerts with tenor Long Long at the Hungarian State Opera, with Piotr Beczala at the Baden Baden Festspielhaus, and for Les Grandes Voix at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées with Kristina Mkhitaryan, followed by Ravel’s Shéhérazade at the Oslo Philharmonic, and Elgar's Sea Pictures Chausson's Poème de l'amour et de la mer at the Musikverein Wien.

Since her breakout debut as Carmen at the Royal Ballet and Opera at the age of 21, Ms. Akhmetshina has rapidly ascended the international operatic stage. She has appeared at all major opera houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Ballet and Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Real Madrid, and Opéra national de Paris.

Awards and Recognition

Include CD of the Year – OPER! Awards 2025 for her debut album Aigul (Decca Classics), Female Singer of the Year – International Opera Awards (2023), Sky Arts Award – Classical Music (2024), Olivier Award Nominee – Outstanding Achievement in Opera (2024), First Prize – International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition (2017).
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Videos

Photos

Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Paola Kudacki
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Photo by
Paola Kudacki
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Photo by
Andrei Uspensky
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Photo by
Beata Nykiel
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Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Andrei Uspensky
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Photo by
Paola Kudacki
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Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Paola Kudacki
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Photo by
Paola Kudacki
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Photo by
Andre Uspensky
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Photo by
Beata Nykiel
Download
Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
Download
Photo by
Lera Nurgalieva
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Photo by
Andrei Uspensky
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Photo by
Paola Kudacki
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News

Press

Metropolitan Opera - Carmen
The New York Times
The only truly impressive aspect of this “Carmen” is its Carmen: the 27-year-old mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina, in turquoise cowboy boots. Though this icon of the repertory is her first leading role at the Met, she seems unfazed by the pressure, singing with easily penetrating evenness and clarity, never needing to push. Her molten yet agile tone can be confiding one moment and extroverted the next, and she moves with magnetic naturalness onstage
Metropolitan Opera - Carmen
The Washington Post
And mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina made a magnetic and often caustic Carmen, her voice equally suited to silken lightness as leathery depth. The show barely seemed to move before she emerged from behind a blood-red door on a catwalk above the action. Her Act I introduction, that familiar habanera (“L’amour est un oiseau rebelle”), was freshened by her humanistic reading, lightened by luminous choral work, and refined through the detail-oriented ear of conductor Daniele Rustioni. Akhmetshina also gave Carmen a restless physicality that never cut into her singing. Her Act II seduction (“Je vais danser en votre honneur ... La la la”) found her stretched across a set of gas pumps. Her reverie with her fellow thieves had her dangling from packing straps and dancing atop crates of smuggled weapons. Depending on the actress, Carmen can be a center of gravity or a black hole; Akhmetshina granted enough room for her to be both
Metropolitan Opera - Carmen
The Observer
Aigul Akhmetshina, as Carmen, won a unanimously roaring ovation. At twenty-seven, the Russian mezzo who debuted at the Met fourteen months ago as Maddalena in Rigoletto has swiftly become the world’s go-to Carmen. His uninspired seduction conveyed little of the necessary electric connection between Carmen and Josè. In fact, Akhmetshina’s kittenish Carmen lacked fire and danger—so much so that her defiance of José during their final encounter came from out of nowhere.Though her characterization remained dramatically lightweight, Akhmetshina proved a vocally ideal Carmen. Her darkly inviting mezzo effortlessly rose from rounded lows to securely shining highs, and she phrased her music with a smoldering, insouciant flair. Hers is no light lyric instrument but a promisingly rich voice that could eventually develop into the big Verdi dramatic mezzo the world craves
Royal Opera and Ballet -Carmen
Opera Online
Amidst a cast that is strong all round, Aigul Akhmetshina stands out in the title role. She played the same part as a Jette Parker Young Artist in 2017 in La tragédie de Carmen (Peter Brook’s 1981 take on the opera), performed it earlier this year at the Metropolitan Opera, and is also set to play it at Glyndebourne in the summer. Her mezzo-soprano is rich, sumptuous and brilliantly controlled, and she captures Carmen’s persona perfectly. As she sings ‘Tralalalala’ she is a relatively still presence, but the allure she radiates is tangible and one can positively feel her defiance, tinged as it is with just a hint of aggression
Royal Opera and Ballet - Werther
Culture Whisper
Outstanding singing from the heroine of Massenet's evening raises the roof. Aigul Akhmetshina is Covent Garden's big star
Royal Opera and Ballet -
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
The Times
First among equals is Aigul Akhmetshina as Rosina. She's only 26, yet her voice has a seamless, luscious quality from top to bottom, and her coloratura is flawless

Discography