Pavlo Balakin

Pavlo Balakin (bass) is one of the most outstanding opera soloists of his generation in Estonia today. Pavlo’s first music degree is from the jazz saxophone class of the Donetsk Music Academy in Ukraine (2006). Thereafter the Ukrainian born bass studied singing at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Prof Mati Palm. In addition, he has worked regularly with a number of great coaches, among them Richard Barker, Roberta Ferrari, Kristina Vavolo, Kristin Okerlund and Jeffrey Goldberg. Between 2002-2008 Pavlo sang in the chorus of the Ukrainian National Opera and between 2008-2013 in the chorus of the Estonian National Opera. Besides, he sang many bass solo roles until being officially hired as a soloist by the Estonian National Opera in 2013.

Professional Opera singer - actor

Books, All stiles music, languages

In 2016, Pavlo Balakin made his debut in Italy – singing the title role of Attila in Verdi's "Attila" at Teatro Massimo di Palermo – and continued during the summer as Dottore Grenvil in the production of "La Traviata" at Opera di Firenze. In 2017, his main roles included the title role in Verdi's "Attila" and Hermann in Wagner's "Tannhäuser" at Teatro La Fenice; Ramfis in "Aida" and Provost marshal in Hindemith's "Cardillac" at the Estonian National Opera; as well as singing in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in Estonia and Israel. In Autumn 2017 he had his debut at the Den Jyske Opera in Denmark as Dulcamara in their new production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore and in February 2018 debuted in the same role at the Lviv National Opera Theatre in his homeland Ukraine. In Summer 2018 Pavlo performed at Opera på Skäret in G. Verdi opera "Don Carlo" in the roles of Grand Inquisitor and the Monk. November 2018 Pavlo will sang in A. Dvořák "Stabat Mater", with Maestro Christoph Eschenbach & Odense Symphony Orchestra in Odense Carl Nielsen Hall, Denmark. January 2019 he made his debut as Malyuta Skuratov in "The Tsar's Bride" by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov at the Estonian National Opera.