Making a boffo appearance was the Sieglinde, soprano Mlada Khudoley. Initially, she sang with a tenderness – and an unforcedness – that really drew the listener in. This was a lovable voice, in a much-loved character. And when the music turned fortissimo, that voice did not turn harsh, but retained its essential beauty. Ms. Khudoley is a fine actress to boot, as she proved in Sieglinde's mini-mad scene (late in the second act).
Mlada Khudoley was born in Moscow. She graduated from the Academic Music College of the Moscow Conservatoire (Choral and Conducting Department) and the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS). She also trained with Professor Ingeborg Wamser in Vienna.
In 1998, she made her debut at the Mariinsky Theatre as Salome in Strauss’ eponymous opera. That same year she joined the Mariinsky Opera.
She took part in a production of Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten, which was the first ever production of the opera in Russia, at the Mariinsky Theatre in 2011. The role of the Empress scored her a Golden Mask Award nomination. Khudoley also appeared in landmark premieres of Die Walküre (2001) and Götterdämmerung (2002). The singer took part in the recordings of Stravinsky’s Les Noces and Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten for the Mariinsky label.
Her repertoire also includes: Princess Elisabeth (Tannhäuser), Santuzza (Cavalleria rusricana), Manon Lescaut in Puccini’s eponymous opera.
As for concert performances, Khudoley took part in performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, Stravinsky’s Les Noces, and Rachmaninoff’s The Bells.
Mlada Khudoley also often works abroad. As a guest soloist, she has appeared at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the Teatro Regio, the Staatstheater Stuttgart, the Washington National Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, the Dallas Opera and many other famous venues.