BIOGRAPHY
"... tonight a trip through the darkest pages of human thoughts was arranged by the frighteningly demonic Scarpia of Gevorg HAKOBYAN. The Armenian baritone was the most vivid impression that we took with us from this evening. His “Va Tosca” perfectly mixed the ubiquitous influx of negative energy with the divine holiness, and the level of intensity - in the best traditions of theatrical drama - constantly increased. In this case, one could dare to use the phrase "world-class dramatic baritone", and it will be appropriate."
“Oper Plus”, Martin Kajzar
Gevorg Hakobyan has captured the opera lover's hearts with his rich dramatic baritone and charismatic acting on many prestigious stages around the world. His secret is hidden not only in his powerful and colorful voice but also in his fathomless spiritual repository, which is the basis of every sound and phrase he sings.
Gevorg Hakobyan is particularly a baritone of Verdi, Puccini and veristic repertoire. Opera experts consider him a successor of the Old Italian vocal school and often compare him with giants like Ettore Bastianini, Silvano Carroli. After presenting Nabucco in Teme di Caracalla, Hakobyan’s performance was compared “with one of the greatest Nabucco of all time Giangiacomo Guelfi” Hakobyan's performances are a symbiosis of potential voice, perfect vocal technique, and charismatic stage presence.
He successfully creates both musical and dramatic characters of sophisticated baritone roles. Hakobyan's repertoire is diverse: from the cunning and vicious Tonio to the regnant villain Scarpia, from the wise Doge and loving father Simon Boccanegra to the cruel lord and penitent King Nabucco, captive king of Ethiopia Amonasro and hypocritical manipulator Iago. With these roles, he has appeared in major opera theaters such as Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro Real, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía Valencia, Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma, Caracalla Festival, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Teatro Carlo Felice, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, etc.
Russian operas have a special place in Hakobyan's repertoire. Their performance stands out by Hakopian's distinctive diction, precise sense of musical style and deep interpretation of the character. He successfully performs the roles of Mazeppa, Graff Tomsky, Grigory Gryaznoy, Ibn Hakia, Aleko just in the cradle of Russian opera Mikhailovsky, Mariinsky Theaters and in the Bolshoi Theater as a resident artist. Especially impressive are Hakobyan's performances of Russian romances that he presents with truly Russian tragic intonation when the hair stands on end from a gloomy wave of human suffering as if coming from the depths of the earth.
Hakobyan has appeared with such great opera conductors as Lorin Maazel, Daniel Oren, Nicola Luisotti, Henrik Nanasi, Paolo Arrivabeni, Lorenzo Viotti, Valeri Gergiev, Tugan Sokhiev etc.
Recent highlights include Mazeppa (title role), Tomsky (Pique Dame), Ibn Hakia (Iolanta) and Gryaznoy (Tsar's Bride) at the Bolshoi Theatre, Tomsky at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Scarpia at the Teatro Real and Dutch National Opera.
Hakobyan presented one of his significant roles Baron Scarpia (Tosca) at Palau de les Arts Valencia, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Teatro Regio di Torino, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Opéra de Lille and Bolshoi. As Baron Scarpia he successfully made his house debut at the Teatro Real, Wiener Staatsoper and Dutch National Opera in Barrie Kosky's phenomenal production conducted by Lorenzo Viotti (April-May 2022).
Gevorg Hakobyan was born in Armenia. He studied at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan with Maestro Sergey Danielyan. In 2008, Gevorg was awarded both the Gold Medal and First Prize at the prestigious First International Pavel Lisitsian Baritone Competition in Moscow, In 2011 he was recognized as a Merited Artist of the Republic of Armenia. Hakobyan is an Associate Professor of the Vocal Department at Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, he has been teaching classical vocal at the vocal-theoretical department since 2010.