Honoured Artist of Russia Svetlana Ratslaf-Levchuk will mark 25 years with the Hvorostovsky Krasnoyarsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre on April 11, celebrating the milestone on the stage she calls home. She'll perform the leading female role of Leonora in Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore.

Ratslaf-Levchuk’s repertoire includes more than 30 principal roles, with Leonora among her most cherished. She first performed the role in 2017. However, in March 2025, a new production of Verdi’s renowned opera premiered, staged by Maria Tikhonova and conducted by Filippo Dessi, incorporating musical material that had previously been cut from the score. As a result, she had to rediscover much of the role anew.

“What does this anniversary night mean to me? It’s a kind of synthesis — a moment to reflect on the past while setting new goals for the future. And, of course, it’s a chance to step on stage in one of my favourite productions, Il Trovatore. It’s one of Verdi’s most passionate operatic thrillers. It blends elements of a medieval ballad — the story is set in 15th-century Spain — with a deeply dramatic love story. At its heart lies a dark secret involving a child cast into the flames. With such intensity on stage, the spectators' hearts can’t help but be stirred. It’s an opera about revenge, a mother’s grief, and the power of love strong enough to face death,” said Svetlana Ratslaf-Levchuk.