SOCIETY 367 / 2015

Honored Artist of Ukraine
Interview with soprano and Soloist of National
Opera of Ukraine in Kiev, Susanna Chakhoian.
Interview: SOCIETY
KUNST & KULTUR
INTERVIEW
Dear Susanna: Until your acclaimed
appearance at the Ambassadors’
Reception at Hotel Imperial on
18.03.2015 we have not heard you
in Vienna. How come that your
beautiful voice and remarkable appearance have
escaped Vienna so far and please tell our readers
something about you.
I am Ukrainian with Armenian roots. I was
born in Odessa in a musicians’ family. Only after
graduation as a concert pianist from Odessa conservatory
I studied opera singing at the National
Academy of Ukraine in Kiev with the legendary
opera singer Eugenia Miroshnichenko. Still being
a student I was invited for Juliette’s role in the
new production of the National Opera. Since then
I belong to the ensemble as a soloist, meanwhile
as Honored Artist of Ukraine. I participated in
several international competitions – Bilbao, Budapest,
Alcamo, and Belvedere in Vienna where I was
awarded the Publikumspreis in 2004. Following
that I declined, due to numerous engagements in
Ukraine and Russia, several offers from Austrian
and German Opera Houses. This must have been a
mistake from today’s point of view, though…
In my nearly 15 years of stage experience I have
performed at all Opera Houses in Ukraine and in
Russia and I had many tours in Holland, Belgium,
France, Italy, to name a few. I had always admired
Vienna, but only in the past years I really got acquainted
to it through my Austrian husband. I
really love Austria and we are spending quite some
time there with our son, enjoying culture, nature,
people and culinary delights.
Talking about opera: what is your favorite
role, Susanna?
Lucia di Lammermoor is certainly on top of the
list. I also love to sing Gilda in Rigoletto, Rosina in
Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Leila in Les Pêcheurs de Perles.
Beside opera I regularly perform recitals with
orchestra or piano, sometimes including pieces
from operetta where my meanwhile quite fluent
German is certainly helpful.
When will we be able to listen to you again in
Vienna?
In Vienna I will perform again on 14.10.2015
at Ehrbar Saal with my dear colleagues Anastasia
Titovych on piano and Taras Shtonda, probably the
best bass in Ukraine. We will perform opera arias
»In my nearly 15
years of stage
experience I have
performed at all
Opera Houses in
Ukraine and in
Russia.
«
and songs and host a reception. Tickets can be acquired
through www.oeticket.com. More information
about me and the recital can also be found on
my website www.susannachakhoian.com.
Thank you very much, Susanna. All the best to
you and your family.
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SOCIETY 1_2015 | 167