Julia Lezhneva

  • Soprano

General management

Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya

"... sublime cantilenas with ornaments woven in like silver threads, trampoline-springing staccati and evenly swinging trills ... Even more haunting, how she knew how to use the messa di voce, the rising and falling of the tone, as an expression of emotional tremor." (FAZ, May 2021) The Süddeutsche Zeitung sees her as a "...magician: she can almost make her voice disappear, performing the most ludicrous vocal feats and garland fireworks".

Julia Lezhneva's international career began with a bang when she caused a sensation in 2010 at the Classical Brit Awards in London's Royal Albert Hall with Rossini's Fra il padre at the invitation of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.

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Just a decade later, she is discovering a broad repertoire with various orchestras, conductors, operas and oratorios. She made her highly successful debuts with the Berliner Philharmoniker in October 2019 and at the Musikverein Vienna in December 2019. She returned to the Mozartwoche Salzburg in January 2020, this time under Sir András Schiff in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro; in January 2023 she sang in Don Giovanni. In June 2023, she appeared for the first time at La Scala in Milan in Porpora's Carlo il Calvo.

In December 2020, she made her celebrated debut with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Herbert Blomstedt. Her debuts with the LA Philharmonic and Atlanta Symphony are on her calendar for the 2024/25 season.

Orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin (RSB), the Orquestra Nacional de España, the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Kaohsiung Philharmonic and the Seoul Philharmonic regularly invite Julia Lezhneva and she regularly works with renowned conductors such as Adam Fischer, Giovanni Antonini, Herbert Blomstedt, Emmanuelle Haïm, Paavo Järvi, Vladimir Jurowski and Andrea Marcon.

Julia Lezhneva is a welcome guest at the Salzburg Festival, the Schwetzingen Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Lucerne Festival, the Dubrovnik Festival, the Festival de la Vézère, the Sion Festival, the Nordland Music Festival and at Bayreuth Baroque.

Julia Lezhneva's debut in Handel's Alcina (Morgana) at the Hamburg State Opera in September 2018 was celebrated to great acclaim and she was immediately invited back for Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia and further performances of Alcina. In 2021, she sang the role of Poppea in a new production of Handel's Agrippina (stage director: by Barrie Kosky), in 2022 Zerlina in Don Giovanni and in May 2024 she will sing Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. Before that, she will make her debut at the Liceo in Barcelona in March 2024 in a staged performance of Handel's Messiah.

In winter 2019, she made her debut in Bach's Christmas Oratorio (conducted by Vladimir Jurowski); in the same season, she sang in Handel's Messiah and La Resurrezione, Vivaldi's Juditha triumphans; as well as Haydn's Creation and Mahler's Symphony No. 4. In October 2024, she will appear for the first time with Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir in Handel's Esther.

Born in 1989 in a family of geophysicists on Sakhalin Island off the Pacific Coast of Russia, Ms. Lezhneva began playing piano and singing at the age of five. She graduated from the Gretchaninov Music School and continued her vocal and piano studies at the Moscow Conservatory Academic Music College. At 17 she came to international attention as the winner of the Elena Obraztsova Opera Singers Competition, and was invited to share the stage with Juan Diego Flórez at the opening of the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro in the following year. In 2009, she won first prize at the Mirjam Helin International Singing Competition in Helsinki and the following year took first prize at the Paris International Opera Competition, as the youngest contestant in each competition’s history. Opernwelt magazine named her “Young Singer of the Year” in 2011 for her debut at La Monnaie in Brussels. The following year she performed at the Victoires de la Musique Classique in Paris.

Julia Lezhneva’s teachers and mentors include Dennis O’Neill, Yvonne Kenny, Elena Obraztsova, Alberto Zedda, Richard Bonynge and Thomas Quasthoff.

Please use this authorized biography of Weigold & Böhm only, Season 2024/25.

Contacts

Photos

  • Julia Lezhneva, Pavel Nersessian, Oper Budapest © Nagy Attila
  • Julia Lezhneva, Pavel Nersessian, Oper Budapest © Nagy Attila
  • Julia Lezhneva, Pavel Nersessian, Oper Budapest © Nagy Attila
  • Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya
  • Lezhneva1© Emil Matveev
  • Carlo Il Calvo © Falk von Traubenberg
  • Carlo Il Calvo © Falk von Traubenberg
  • ALCINA 2018 © Staatsoper Hamburg - Hans Joerg Michel
  • Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya
  • Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya
  • Carlo Il Calvo © Falk von Traubenberg

News

Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg - Julia Lezhneva und Adam Fischer © Claudia Höhne

The Elbphilharmonie becomes a theatre stage

Julia Lezhneva - Concerto Köln - Zürich 27. Mai 2024 © Quim Vilar

A great moment with Julia Lezhneva and Concerto Köln in the Tonhalle Zurich

© Bernd Sangmeister

Julia Lezhneva - debut as Cherubino at the Hamburg State Opera

Lezhneva1© Emil Matveev

Julia Lezhneva - to die for!

Bayreuth Baroque 2023 - Julia Lezhneva und Max Cencic © Clemens Manser

Live broadcast of Handel's "Flavio, Re de' Langobardi" with Julia Lezhneva and Concerto Köln in Bayreuth on 17.09.23

Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya

Synopsis of press reviews - Julia Lezhneva in CARLO IL CALVO and IL POLIFEMO

Julia Lezhneva, Pavel Nersessian, Oper Budapest © Nagy Attila

Julia Lezhneva and Pavel Nersessian inspire with their duo programme in Bonn and Budapest.

Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya

Julia Lezhneva in Handel's Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno at ARTE TV

Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya

Great night for Lezhneva! Julia Lezhneva as Fiordiligi at the TCE in Paris

Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya

Julia Lezhneva with the Berlin Philharmonic

„Weigold & Böhm“ - artists in German Top 20 Classical Charts

Julia Lezhneva © Ksenia Zasetskaya

Julia Lezhneva at the Salzburger Mozartwoche

Lezhneva1© Emil Matveev

Great - Julia Lezhneva with Dmitry Sinkovsky, Luca Pianca and La Voce Strumentale in Berlin

Concerto Köln ©WarsawPhilharmonic

Julia Lezhneva and Concerto Köln provide „one of the most beautiful evenings in the life of a music enthusiast“ at the Schwetzinger SWR Festspiele

Concerts

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Bremerhaven, 7:30 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Orchestra:

    Les Accents Ensemble

    Conductor:

    Thibault Noally

    Program:

    Location:

    Bürgermeister-Smidt-Gedächtniskirche Bremerhaven

    Organizer:

    https://www.musikfest-bremen.de

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Wroclaw, 7:00 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Anett Fritsch, Lucile Richardot, Krystian Adam Krzeszowiak

    Orchestra:

    Il Giardino Armonico

    Conductor:

    Giovanni Antonini

    Program:

    Händel: Trionfo del Tempo e del Designanno HWV 46a Oratorium in zwei Teilen, Libretto von Benedetto Cardinal Pamphilj

    Location:

    Narodowe Forum Muzyki (National Forum of Music)

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Linz, 7:30 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Helmut Deutsch

    Program:

    Lieder von Frédéric Chopin (1810-1949), Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884), Anton Bruckner (1824–1896), Peter Cornelius (1824–1874), Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924), Richard Strauss (1864–1949), Reynaldo Hahn (1874–1947)

    Location:

    LIVA Veranstaltungsgesellschaft / Brucknerhaus Linz

    Organizer:

    https://www.liva.at - www.brucknerfest.at

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Enschede, 8:00 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    Muziekcentrum Enschede

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Utrecht, 8:15 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    TivoliVredenburg

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Den Haag, 8:15 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    Amare house for the arts, events, education and cultural encounter

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Brussels, 8:00 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    Bozar Henry Le Boeuf Hall

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Eindhoven, 8:15 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    Muziekgebouw Eindhoven Frits Philips

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Amsterdam, 8:10 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    Het Concertgebouw N.V.

  • Julia Lezhneva

    Budapest, 7:00 pm

    Details
    Tickets

    Partner(s):

    Maarten Engeltjes, Andreas Wolf

    Orchestra:

    Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir

    Conductor:

    Ton Koopman

    Program:

    Händel: Esther HWV 50

    Location:

    Muvészetek Palotája - Palast der Künste (müpa)

Projects

  • La Cetra Barockorchester Basel – Andrea Marcon (Leitung & Cembalo) - Julia Lezhneva (Sopran) - Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    La Cetra & Friends

    Details

    Program:

    G. F. Händel - Ouvertüre zur Oper «Ariodante»
    G. F. Händel - «Un pensiero nemico di pace» aus «Il Trionfo del Tempo e del disinganno»
    A. Vivaldi - «Gelido in ogni vento» aus der Oper «Farnace»
    Oder G. F. Händel - «Crude furie degli orridi abissi» aus der Oper «Serse»
    A. Vivaldi - Concerto per 2 violoncelli g-moll
    G. F. Händel - «Il voler nel fior degli anni», Duett Bellezza & Piacere aus «Il Trionfo del Tempo e del disinganno»
    A. Vivaldi - «Zeffiretti, che susurrate», Arie aus «La fida ninfa»
    A. Vivaldi - Concerto per 2 oboi
    A. Vivaldi - «Vedrò con mio diletto» aus der Oper «Giustino»
    PAUSE
    F. Geminiani - La Follia
    G . F. Händel - «Venti turbini», Arie des Rinaldo aus der Oper «Rinaldo»
    A. Vivaldi - «Agitata da due venti» aus «La Griselda»
    G. F. Händel - «Caro! Bella!», Duett aus der Oper: «Giulio Cesare»

    Contact:

  • La Cetra Barockorchester Basel – Andrea Marcon (Leitung & Cembalo) - Julia Lezhneva (Sopran) - Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    La Cetra & Friends

    Details

    Program:

    G. F. Händel - Ouvertüre zur Oper «Ariodante»
    G. F. Händel - «Un pensiero nemico di pace» aus «Il Trionfo del Tempo e del disinganno»
    A. Vivaldi - «Gelido in ogni vento» aus der Oper «Farnace»
    Oder G. F. Händel - «Crude furie degli orridi abissi» aus der Oper «Serse»
    A. Vivaldi - Concerto per 2 violoncelli g-moll
    G. F. Händel - «Il voler nel fior degli anni», Duett Bellezza & Piacere aus «Il Trionfo del Tempo e del disinganno»
    A. Vivaldi - «Zeffiretti, che susurrate», Arie aus «La fida ninfa»
    A. Vivaldi - Concerto per 2 oboi
    A. Vivaldi - «Vedrò con mio diletto» aus der Oper «Giustino»
    ---
    F. Geminiani - La Follia
    G . F. Händel - «Venti turbini», Arie des Rinaldo aus der Oper «Rinaldo»
    A. Vivaldi - «Agitata da due venti» aus «La Griselda»
    G. F. Händel - «Caro! Bella!», Duett aus der Oper: «Giulio Cesare»

    Contact:

  • Stuttgarter Kammerorchester (18 Musiker) – Julia Lezhneva (Sopran) – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    In Paradis Gloriae

    Details

    Program:

    Arvo Pärt - "My Heart’s in the Highlands" für Countertenor und Orgel (9min)
    Sven-Erkki Tüür - "Action-Passion-Illusion" für Streichorchester (18 min)
    Arvo Pärt - "L'abbé Agathon" für Sopran, 4 Bratschen und 4 Violoncello (15 min)
    Pause
    Giovanni Battista Pergolesi - "Stabat Mater" für Sopran, Alt und Streicher

    Contact:

  • Kammerorchester Basel – Julia Lezhneva (Sopran) - Carlo Vistoli (Countertenor)

    Mermaids & Water in music

    Details

    Program:

    Werke von Porpora, Vinci, Händel, Bononcini, Sarro

    Contact:

  • La Cetra Barockorchester Basel – Andrea Marcon (Leitung & Cembalo) - Julia Lezhneva (Sopran) - Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    La Cetra & Friends

    Details

    Program:

    G. F. Händel - Ouvertüre zur Oper «Ariodante»
    G. F. Händel - «Un pensiero nemico di pace» aus «Il Trionfo del Tempo e del disinganno»
    A. Vivaldi - «Gelido in ogni vento» aus der Oper «Farnace»
    Oder G. F. Händel - «Crude furie degli orridi abissi» aus der Oper «Serse»
    A. Vivaldi - Concerto per 2 violoncelli g-moll
    G. F. Händel - «Il voler nel fior degli anni», Duett Bellezza u. Piacere aus «Il Trionfo del Tempo e del disinganno»
    A. Vivaldi - «Zeffiretti, che susurrate», Arie aus «La fida ninfa»
    A. Vivaldi - Concerto per 2 oboi
    A. Vivaldi - «Vedrò con mio diletto» aus der Oper «Giustino»
    F. Geminiani - La Follia
    G . F. Händel - «Venti turbini», Arie des Rinaldo aus der Oper «Rinaldo»
    A. Vivaldi - «Agitata da due venti» aus «La Griselda»
    G. F. Händel - «Caro! Bella!», Duett aus der Oper: «Giulio Cesare»

    Contact:

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Biography 2024/2025