About
Ukrainian-American dramatic mezzo-soprano Galina Ivannikova is hailed by critics and audiences alike for her rich, lustrous voice as well as for her passionate dramatic portrayals. Bruce Michael Gelbert of NY Art Review raved “ Ivannikova's timbre was ruby in color, her chest register aptly gutsy, and her emotion pitch-perfect. She possessed a big glorious Verdi voice reminiscent of the Golden Age tradition.” She kept busy during the pandemic, performing online concerts, judging competitions, and recording several works by modern composers. The 2019-2020 season successfully kicked off with such performances as Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde with Connecticut Lyric opera, as well as an acclaimed aria concert with Northern Art Center, Yellowknife, NT, Canada. During the 2018-2019 season, Ivannikova performed the roles of Amneris in Verdi's Aida with Gateway Classical Opera society, as the Mezzo Soloist in Mahler's Das Lied von Erde, Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlo with Connecticut Lyric Opera, Waltraute in Wagner's Götterdämmerung with NYVWOG, Azucena in Verdi's Il Trovatore and The Witch in Humperdink's Hansel and Gretel with Regina Opera, Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera with Amore Opera, in addition to numerous concert appearances. The 2017-2018 season included engagements as Carmen in Bizet's Carmen with Lyric Theater D'Europa, Waltraute in Wagner's Götterdämmerung, Leonora in Donizetti's La Favorite with NYWSO, and Amneris with both Connecticut Lyric Opera and West Side Opera Society. In 2016-2017, Ivannikova appeared as La Cieca in Ponchielli's La Gioconda with NJ Verismo Opera, Amneris with Lyric Theater D'Europa, Odarka in Hulak-Artemovsky's The Cossack beyond the Danube, Inkeeper/Marina Mnishek in Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov with Commonwealth Opera Theater of Boston, of which Opera Magazine(London) said, "Ivannikova has an imposing instrument and passion!" In previous seasons, she brought critical acclaim to the roles Amneris in Verdi's Aida, Azucena in Verdi's Il Trovatore, Ulrica in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, Maddalena in Verdi's Rigoletto, Marta in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta with VP NYC, Principessa in Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, Nicklausse/Muse in Tales of Hoffmann, Waltraute in Wagner's Götterdämmerung, Fricka in Wagner's Die Walküre, Olga/Nurse/Larina in TchaikovskyEugene Onegin, the Mezzo Soloist in the Verdi Requiem, Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, and Fricka in Wagner's Die Walküre.