Alexandr Beň
bariton
Alexandr Beň became a laureate of an international singing competition in Belgrade as early as a student at the Lvov State Conservatory. After graduating he accepted an engagement as a soloist at the Ivan Franko Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Lvov. In 1991 he made his debut here in the title role of the opera Eugene Onegin by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, which became his principal role; he appeared in this role again, not only on the stage of the South Bohemian Theatre but also at the National Theatre in Prague. In 1993 he took part in voice courses of the European Center for Opera and Vocal Arts in Gent, Belgium, led by the bass-baritone Tom Kraus. Since 1994 he has been a leading soloist of the opera ensemble of the South Bohemian Theatre in České Budějovice. He sang here a large number of great baritone parts, especially from Verdi’s works, but also in verismo operas (Puccini, Giordano). Recently he has extended his repertoire by the role of Figaro in Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, Kalina in Smetana’s The Secret, Don Alfonso in Mozart’s opera Cosi fan tutte and Don Carlo di Vargas and Jago in Verdi’s operas La forza del destino and Otello and Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
