Russian coloratura soprano Albina Shagimuratova first came to international attention as the winner of the Gold Medal in the 2007 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Today’s reigning Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, she has made house debuts in that role with the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Vienna State Opera, Salzburg Festival, San Francisco Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Hamburg State Opera and at LA Opera (in 2009). Appearances for the 2011/12 season include Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore and Musetta in La Bohème in Vienna,  Ruslan and Ludmilla at the Bolshoi Opera and La Traviata with Houston Grand Opera. During the 2010/2011 season, she made her role debut in the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor at Houston Grand Opera. (www.AlbinaShagimuratova.com)