Maria Bulgakova

Opera

Maria Bulgakova is originally from Russia and studied voice and composition in Moscow and Lübeck. She worked in masterclasses with Grace Bumbry, Brigitte Eisenfeld, Brigitte Fassbaender, Thomas Hampson, Robert Holl, Charlotte Margiono, and Deborah Polaski, who continues to mentor her to this day.

She is a prizewinner of the International Stanisław Moniuszko Vocal Competition, the Richard Strauss Vocal Competition, and the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg Competition.

In Russia, she initially performed roles from the young dramatic soprano repertoire, including "Tosca", "Ariadne auf Naxos", the Marschallin in "Der Rosenkavalier", and Santuzza in "Cavalleria rusticana". Following her transition to the dramatic mezzo-soprano repertoire, she developed roles such as Azucena in "Il trovatore", Eboli in "Don Carlo", the Foreign Princess in "Rusalka", Kundry in Wagner’s "Parsifal", Venus in "Tannhäuser", and Brangäne in "Tristan und Isolde".

She has appeared as a guest artist at renowned opera houses in Germany, at the Wrocław Opera, and at festivals including the Richard Strauss Festival and the Eutin Festival. Most recently, she performed the Mother in "Hansel und Gretel" at Theater Lübeck and Madame Larina in "Eugen Onegin" at the Volkstheater Rostock.

In the 2025/2026 season, she will make her debut as Larina in "Eugen Onegin" at the Salzburg State Theatre.

She is highly sought after as a concert singer and interpreter of contemporary music, with appearances at the Berlin Konzerthaus, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Tyrolean Festival Erl, and the “Festival of 1000 Sounds” in Augsburg.

Her international engagements have taken her to Poland, Russia, Israel, and the United States. Her recordings include the solo CD "Richard Wagner. Liebeserklärungen" (Hänssler Classic), Stravinsky’s "Les noces", and Strauss’ "Intermezzo" with the Munich Radio Orchestra conducted by Ulf Schirmer (cpo).

Last updated: January 2026