“Fantastic Viktoria Kurbatskaya was by all means the star of the matinee. In the four soprano phrases she showed all the best features of the art of singing, full voice fascinating sound, with unrestrained and light high notes.” (Aargauer Zeitung, Solothurn, Switzerland)
Viktoria Kurbatskaya was born in Kaliningrad, Russia. She has received her Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance at the Kalinigrad State Music College in Kalinigrad (Russia), Master of Fine Arts in Voice Performance at the Belarusian State Academy of Music in Minsk (Belarus) and completed an Advanced Certificate Program in Music Education at Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York (USA). Ms. Kurbatskaya further continued her education by attending master classes with Maria Guleghina (Luxemburg), Zara Dolukhanova (Russia), Fransisco Araiza (Germany), Kristjian Johannsson (Italy), Richard Barrett (USA), and Anna Skibinsky (Israel).
As a performer, Viktoria Kurbatskaya sang leading parts at the National Academic Great Opera Theatre of the Republic of Belarus and has received numerous prestigious awards: XVI International Art Competition “Amber Necklace” (Russia), Finalist at the International Glinka Vocal Competition (Russia), Award Winner at the Amber Nightingale International Competition (Russia), and Award Winner at the International L. Alexandrovskaya Singing Competition (Belarus), among others.
“Viktoria Kurbatskaya gives her play the breath of the really big musical theatre… she is the one whose voice makes the whole production. Plastically and temperamentally she gives Micaela dramatic look and gets storms of applauses.” (Rhein Main Presse, Kirn, Germany)
Career highlights of Ms. Kurbatskaya include Lisa in The Queen of Spades with Opera Ireland in Dublin, Mimi in La Boheme and Liu in Turandot with Gwyneth Jones and Kristjan Johannsson under the hand of the conductor Ralf Weikert, Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera with the world famous baritone Leo Nucci, Violetta in La Traviata under the baton of Giorgio Croci at the Classic OpenAir Festival in Switzerland, Gilda in Rigoletto in Teatro Lopez Ayala/Badajoz in Spain, and Micaela in Carmen in Teatro Amazonas in Brazil.
“Ms. Kurbatskaya in particular was a pleasure. Even among the many stylish performances of Russian music that the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and Anissimov have produced in recent years, this one stood out.” (The Irish Times, Dublin, Ireland)
In addition, Viktoria Kurbatskaya was invited by the Marian Chudovsky (Director of the National Opera House of Bratislava) to perform the part of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor with the famous tenor Miroslav Dvorsky. She has also appeared at the New Jersey State Opera’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore in the role of Leonora with Maestro Alfredo Silipingni, with whom Ms. Kurbatskaya has also worked on the title role in ZaZa with Teatro Grattacielo at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York. After making her American debut, Viktoria Kurbatskaya was invited by the Nevada Opera Theater in Las Vegas to perform Tosca under the conducting of Frank Fetta.
Ms. Kurbatskaya has also sung Carmina Burana with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic in the Grand Hall of the Philharmonic in St. Petersburg, Russia. With the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland she has sung “Porgy and Bess” with one of the most famous “Porgy” performers in the world, Willard White, at the NSO concert for the Chernobyl Children’s Project.
“Viktoria Kurbatskaya’s Lisa was youthful and introspective, when she was at her most impassioned.” (The Irish Times, Dublin, Ireland)
“Viktoria Kurbatskaya’s dark soprano that tends to be very dramatic is at the same time a strong voice” (Kultur, Solothurn, Switzerland)
“Anonio Salvadori and Viktoria Kurbatskaya were in the leading roles Rogoletto and Gilda the cheered Stars with the first week-end of the Opera Festival” (Wochenspiegel, Germany)
Ms. Kurbatskaya has performed on concert tours in Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Ireland, Slovakia, Poland, Belgium, Brazil, Turkey, China, Russia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
In addition to a successful career as a performer, Ms. Kurbatskaya has also excelled in teaching. She worked as a Voice instructor for the Choir of the National Academic Great Opera Theater of the Republic of Belarus, an Assistant Professor at the Belarusian State Academy of Music, and a Voice Teacher at the Belarusian State Music College.
She further continued her teaching career in United States after completing an Advanced Certificate Program in Music Education. Her students have won Platinum, Gold, First Place, and High Score awards at the prestigious regional and national competitions across the United States. In addition, her students have performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Merkin Hall, and DiCapo Opera Theater. Her students have also appeared in the professional productions with the Manhattan School of Music, Random Farms Kids Theater, and Debaun Theater Company. She was recognized as a “Best Vocal Teacher” at the Star Systems National Talent Competition and has received a “Diploma of Recognition for Extraordinary Dedication and Exceptional Achievement in Music Education” at the American Fine Arts Festival.
Ms. Kurbatskaya is a member of the American Music Teacher League and the New York Singing Teacher’s Association and at present she continues to perform, teach, and promote music as a Co-Founder and President of Forte International Music Competition and Festivals, a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering and developing talented musicians through competitions, festivals, and other performing opportunities.