This week, Russian soprano Galina Cheplakova makes a striking debut at the Metropolitan Opera, stepping into the role of Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades on June 4 and June 7, 2025, following an unexpected late replacement.

Critics lauded her performance as a “star‑is‑born” moment. Reviewing her debut, The New York Times says: “She gave a performance that I felt lucky to witness. Cheplakova is agile and graceful as a singer and actress, with impressive technical control over her gorgeous instrument. …. Her voice — silvery and piercing at the top of her register, plummy and sweet at the bottom—is sumptuous.”