Tenor Pavel Valuzhin recently marked a major milestone in his career, making his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto. We spoke with Pavel about his experience stepping onto the legendary Met stage, his journey with the role, and his artistic aspirations for the future.
When asked about his unexpected debut as the Duke at the Metropolitan Opera, Pavel shared:
"It was a huge surprise and an incredible shock for me. I am immensely grateful that everything came together! I thank God for giving me this opportunity to perform on this grand stage twice and to sing one of my favorite roles, the Duke in Rigoletto."
While the opportunity may have been sudden, Pavel’s preparation for this moment was anything but. With over 50 performances of this role already under his belt, he brought a decade of experience to the Met’s stage:
"My first debut in this role was at the age of 27. Over these 10 years, I’ve gradually gained the experience needed to go on stage and bring joy to the audience. But no matter how many times you’ve sung the role before, stepping onto the stage always feels like starting anew."
Pavel also highlighted the creative process leading up to his performances in New York:
"At the Metropolitan Opera, we had a two-week rehearsal period where we worked diligently. We rehearsed multiple times and had run-throughs. It was a rich creative process."
Performing at a venue as prestigious as the Metropolitan Opera is a dream for many singers, and Pavel reflected on the challenges and rewards of this experience:
"I am incredibly fortunate to have performed this beautiful role around the world. Every conductor, director, and designer tries to preserve traditions while creating something unique. In today’s world, everyone seeks to find their own distinctive style—in music, costumes, sets, and details—while staying true to the love and traditions of this art form."
Pavel has brought the Duke of Mantua to life on stages in Germany, Austria, South America, and beyond. Each performance, he noted, has shaped his interpretation of the role:
"Every role performed in a particular theater required an individual approach. Each production was unique—different sets, costumes, and elements brought new character, thoughts, and desires. My focus has always been to do the work I love, to step onto the stage, and share feelings and emotions with the audience, bringing them joy."
When asked about his artistic journey and future goals, Pavel emphasized the importance of staying inspired and open to new opportunities:
"I prefer not to look too far into the future. What I do want is to believe in miracles. No matter how grown-up we become, we remain youthful, creative, open, and driven. Of course, I always want to return to beloved theaters, explore new things, take on new roles, discover new facets of myself, and set high goals. Most importantly, I want to share all of this with the audience. After all, everything we do, we do for them."
Pavel Valuzhin
Tenor
