Elena Tsallagova

Recent operatic highlights include the title role in Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen at Gran Teatre del Liceu, Opéra National de Paris and the Bayerische Staatsoper, Blanche in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites at the Royal Danish Theatre, Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Marta in Weinberg's Die Passagierin and Oksana in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Christmas Eve at the Bayerische Staatsoper, Elettra in Mozart’s Idomeneo for Theater an der Wien, Fiorilla in Rossini’s Il turco in Italia for Opéra National de Lyon, Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at Staatsoper Stuttgart and Leila in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles for Staatstheater Wiesbaden and at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen. Her long association with the Deutsche Oper Berlin has included Corinna in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Donna Clara in Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg, Mimì in Puccini’s La Bohème, Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Liù in Puccini’s Turandot, Berthe in Meyerbeer’s Le prophète and Eva in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Tsallagova made her debut with Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 2009 as Nannetta in Verdi's Falstaff, returning to the festival in the same role, and then again as Vixen in The Cunning Little Vixen and Donna Fiorilla in Rossini's Il turco in Italia. Tsallagova is also regularly reinvited to the Teatro Real, Dutch National Opera, Opéra National du Rhin, The Rossini Opera, Salzburger and Bregenzer festivals and Opéra National de Paris, where she debuted as Sophie in Massenet's Werther and Mélisande in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande having previously been a member of their Atelier Lyrique programme for young artists.

Equally prolific on the concert platform, Tsallagova’s recent plans have included Shostakovich's Symphony no. 14 on tour with Kremerata Baltica (Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla), Dvořák's Te Deum with Prague Philharmonic Choir (Lukáš Vasilek), L'Ange in Saint François d'Assise at the Ensecu Festival and Vixen in The Cunning Little Vixen with the Czech Philharmonic (Jakub Hrůša), Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen in concert at the National Centre for the Performing Arts Beijing, Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms (Ilan Volkov) and Handel’s Messiah at Grand Théâtre de Genève, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Salzburger Festspiele and Mozarteum Salzburg. Tsallagova works regularly with James Gaffigan and both the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Tsallagova was nominated by Opus Classic for ‘Best Singer Of The Year’ in 2021 and in the 63rd annual Grammy awards for a recording of Zemlinsky Der Zwerg in 2019 with Deutsche Oper Berlin in the Best Opera Recording category.

Her extensive discography includes Martinů Larmes de coteau with Staatsorchester Stuttgart [Capriccio, 2022], Handel Messiah with Les Musiciens du Louvre and Vienna Philharmonia Chorus [UNITEL, 2020], Bizet Carmen at Bergenz Festival [C Major, 2017], Mayr Medea in Corinto with the Bayerische Staatsoper [UNITEL, 2010], Pelleas et Mélisande [UNITEL, 2013] and The Cunning Little Vixen [DVD, 2009] with Opéra National de Paris. The DVD of the latter production was awarded DVD of the year at the 2009 Victoires de la musique.

Tsallagova studied at the St Petersburg Conservatory, and after winning first prize in the Rachmaninov competition, began performing at the Mariinsky Theatre before continuing her studies in Europe.

2026/27 season / 626 words. Not to be altered without permission.