Video Excerpt | Q & A Ildar Abdrazakov & Olga Borodina | Buy Tickets 

Ildar Abdrazakov will be costumed by Miuccia Prada when he plays the title role in the new production of Verdi’s Attila this season—but first he’ll sing the devil in La Damnation de Faust, opposite his wife, Olga Borodina. The Met’s Peter McClintock spoke with the Russian duo on the eve of the new season.

You’ve performed together at the Met before in Carmen and L’Italiana in Algeri, and now in La Damnation de Faust. Do you try to arrange your schedules to sing together often?
Olga Borodina: Yes, whenever we can, but it doesn’t always happen that way. We did some concert performances of Damnation in May in Madrid, and we just made a recording of it in Vienna. I’ve seen the Met’s Robert Lepage production—the visuals and effects are great!

Ildar, you’ve also sung the devil in Gounod’s Faust at the Met. What are the differences?
Ildar Abdrazakov: In Gounod’s version, it’s more about the individual relationships between the soloists. In the Berlioz, the music is more grandiose, with a focus on big ensemble efforts by the soloists, chorus, and orchestra. It’s orchestrated brilliantly.

Olga, what attracts you to Marguerite?
OB: The music is beautiful and so unusual. I’ve been singing this part for a very long time! I first did it at Covent Garden in 1993. I love Berlioz.

You’re also starring in the new production of Verdi’s Attila this season, conducted by Riccardo Muti. How was it working with him at the Salzburg Festival this past summer?
IA: His musical imagination is amazing, because his work is so deep and thorough. We’ve become good friends now too. He even calls me his son! And it’s fantastic that [architects] Herzog & de Meuron and Miuccia Prada are designing the production. I can’t wait to work with them.

Olga, you’ve got a new production on your schedule as well.
OB: I’m doing Carmen, which overlaps a little with Attila. So we’ll get to be together in New York again in February.

You have such a busy fall. How have you spent your summer?
OB: Vacation! I was in Tuscany with my kids, and Ildar came to join us after he finished in Salzburg. It was a real chance to wind down. I didn’t even open my mouth to sing. But sometimes it’s very healthy to just do nothing! —Peter McClintock

La Damnation de Faust opens October 23.