About
German mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Chayka-Rubinstein, praised for her "beautiful voice with great volume and charisma" (Das Opernmagazin), captivates with her impressive stage presence and versatility on international stages.
She has performed with esteemed opera houses such as the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, Glyndebourne, Semperoper Dresden, Staatstheater Hannover, Theater Bremen, Teatro de la Maestranza, and Ópera de Tenerife, taking on significant roles.
Recent engagements at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden are the roles of Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro), the Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), the Dritte Elfe (Rusalka), and the role of Annina (La traviata). In her first Ring Cycle, she portrayed as Flosshilde (Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung) and Siegrune (Die Walküre). Additionally, her Wagnerian debut included the roles of Blumenmädchen and Stimme aus der Höhe (Parsifal) at the Glyndebourne Festival. She celebrated successful debuts as Polina (Pique Dame) and Ein Page der Herodias (Salome) at the Semperoper Dresden and Theater Bremen. At the Staatstheater Hannover, she impressed as Queen Hippolyta (A Midsummer Night's Dream) and as Kürtchen/Königin (Die Gänsemagd). Other notable performances include her portrayel of Prinz Orlovsky (Die Fledermaus) at Teatro de la Maestranza in Valencia and Ópera de Tenerife. Her concert performance as Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel) at the Berliner Philharmonie was equally impressive. She also appeared as Zulma (L’italiana in Algeri) at the Bregenz Festival.
She has worked with distinguished conductors such as Howard Arman, Jonathan Brandini, Yoel Gamzou, Philippe Jordan, Antonello Manacorda, Marc Minkowski, Kirill Petrenko, Simon Rattle, Julien Salemkour, Speranza Scappucci, Giedre Šlekytė, Mikhail Tatarnikov, Robin Ticciati, Simone Young, and Stephan Zilias.
Ms. Chayka-Rubinstein is not only active in opera but is also a sought-after concert singer. Recently, she impressed with songs from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn“ alongside the Filharmonia Zielonogórska at the Tadeusz Baird Concert Hall. She also performed as a soloist in the oratorio “Elias” with the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Kirill Petrenko. As a guest artist, she appeared at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, presenting both German and French song repertoire. At the international music festival Kissinger Sommer, she performed premieres alongside pianist Jan Philip Schulze.
Her competition successes include winning the Prix de Lied at the Nadia et Lili Boulanger Competition in Paris (2019), third prize at the International Competition for Lied Art in Stuttgart (2020), first prize at the International Anton Rubinstein Competition (2019), and first prize at the 19th Maritim Music Competition (2018). At just 18 years old, she won first prize at the Bundeswettbewerb Gesang Berlin (2016). She placed third at the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy University Competition (2020) and received the prize from the Förderverein Freunde Junger Musiker Deutschland, which afforded her numerous concert opportunities across Germany. Other notable accolades include the Prize of Friends at the 54th International LiedDuo Singing Competition in ’s-Hertogenbosch (2021) and third prize at the 1st Josephine Lang Competition (2023).
As part of various Young Artist Programs, she performed at the Liedbasel Festival (2024), SongStudio at Carnegie Hall (2019), Heidelberger Frühling (2021), and Schubertiade Hohenems (2021).
Her artistic development has been enriched by masterclasses with esteemed artists such as Peter Berne, Ian Bostridge, Julius Drake, KS Brigitte Fassbaender, Bernarda Fink, Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Rachel Harnisch, Susan Manoff, Dame Ann Murray, Heidi Murphy, Kevin Murphy, François Le Roux, and Andrew Watts.
Ekaterina is profoundly grateful to her teachers, Prof. Marina Sandel and Prof. Jan Philip Schulze, who have significantly guided and inspired her on her artistic journey.