Ekaterina Bakanova

An opera and oratorio singer, she embodies a heritage blending Russian roots from the Ural Mountains, in Mednogorsk, and the Ukrainian plains, in Melitopol, a city twinned with Melito di Napoli, Italy.

She studied singing, piano, and accordion. Her artistic career primarily developed in Europe, and more specifically in Italy, a country she has embraced as her own.

With a deep affection for Italy, she now resides there and promotes lyrical music and culture in general.

She is the recipient of numerous national and international competitions, awards, and distinctions:

• Giuseppe Sciacca International Award (Italy, 2021)
• Recognized by NewsREMINDER and the European Parliament Office in Italy as Ambassador of Italian Culture worldwide (Italy, 2020)
• Remind Award, International Award for Best Practices (Italy, 2020)
• TAOBUK Award from the Taormina International Literary Festival for her contribution to art and culture (Italy, 2020)
• Named ‘Revelation of the Year’ at the International Opera Awards in London (Italy, 2016)
• ‘Giulietta’ Award for Best Female Revelation at the Arena di Verona Festival (Italy, 2015)
• 1st Prize at the AsLiCo Competition for the role of Lucia di Lammermoor (Italy, 2012)
• 2nd Prize at the Riccardo Zandonai Opera Competition in Riva del Garda (Italy, 2011)
• Audience Award at the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition in Vienna (Austria, 2011)
• 3rd Prize at the Maria Caniglia Competition in Sulmona (Italy, 2008)
• ‘The Triumph Award’ (Russia, 2008)
• 1st Prize at the Giuseppe di Stefano Competition at the ‘Luglio Musicale Trapanese’ (Italy, 2007)

Ekaterina Bakanova is a regular guest at the most renowned international opera houses and collaborates with the most prestigious conductors.

She has established a fruitful collaboration with the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, and has performed on several occasions with Maestros Fabio Luisi, Steven Mercurio, and Juraj Valčuha, as well as with Ensemble Matheus under the direction of Jean-Christophe Spinosi, and alongside Plácido Domingo, Myung-Whun Chung, Dan Ettinger, Daniele Rustioni, Nello Santi, Daniele Callegari.

She has participated in productions by renowned directors such as Mario Martone, Franco Zeffirelli, Achim Freyer, Calixto Bieito, Robert Carsen, Henning Brockhaus, Richard Eyre, Hugo de Ana, Renaud Doucet, Andrea de Rosa.

Following her highly acclaimed debut at the Royal Opera House in London in the role of Violetta Valéry, critics praised the subtlety of her interpretation. Since then, she has been invited to the most prestigious stages: Dresden Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Royal Opera of Versailles, Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, Zurich Opernhaus, NCPA Beijing, and many others.