Chester, 19 April 2026

Russian Art Songs

An intimate Sunday recital by former Mariinsky Theatre artistsFor the first time in Chester

Rachmaninoff. Aleko

You may know these composers — but not like this.Tchaikovsky is widely known in Britain as the composer of Eugene Onegin and Swan Lake, yet his songs remain a hidden treasure — intimate, direct and deeply personal.Mussorgsky, best known for Boris Godunov — a regular feature of the Royal Opera House repertoire — reveals another side in his iconic Songs and Dances of Death. Often heard with orchestra, it is presented here in its original piano version — allowing the singer greater expressive freedom, as each song unfolds as a vivid dramatic scene.Rachmaninoff, one of the most celebrated pianists and composers of 20th century, is widely known for his piano concertos. His songs, however, reveal a more intimate voice — lyrical, direct and deeply expressive.Performed by Efim Zavalny (baritone) and Rebekka Magomedova (piano) — former artists of the Mariinsky Theatre, now based in the UK.The concert lasts approximately 60 minutes. The music is performed in the original language, with English translations provided throughout.


meet the artists

Efim Zavalny &
Rebekka Magomedova

We’re Efim Zavalny (baritone) and Rebekka Magomedova (pianist)—musicians from St Petersburg, Russia.Efim’s performances have been praised for their expressive power and emotional precision by international media such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Observer. His stage roles include Eugene Onegin, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (War and Peace), Demon, Don Giovanni, Aleko, and many others.Until 2022, we worked at the Mariinsky Theatre, but after the start of the war in Ukraine we left Russia.Since 2024 we have been based in London, continuing to perform chamber and operatic programmes.


Explore our UK-based project, The Floating Opera, on our website thefloatingopera.co.uk — or feel free to message us.

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