Yevgeny Brazhnik (1945–2023) was a Russian conductor who was a recipient of the USSR State Prize and the title of People's Artist of Russia. He was known for his work in leading musical theaters and for conducting over 50 operas in Russia and internationally.
Career highlights
Education: Brazhnik was educated at the Saint Petersburg and Ural conservatories.
Early performances: One of his notable early performances was as the conductor of The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh. He later gained recognition for conducting David Lloyd-Jones' version of Boris Godunov at the Yekaterinburg Opera.
Helikon Opera: From 1999, he was a regular at the Helikon Opera in Moscow, becoming a permanent conductor in 2006.
Moscow musical theaters: He also worked with other major Russian musical institutions, including the Musical Theater named after K. Stanislavsky and V. Nemirovich-Danchenko, and the Natalia Sats Moscow Children's Musical Theatre.
Golden Mask Award: In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Golden Mask award for his conducting of The Tales of Hoffmann.
International performances: His career took him across the globe, with performances in countries such as China, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and the United States.
Legacy
Brazhnik died on September 10, 2023, at the age of 78. He is remembered for his significant contributions to the Russian and international opera scene.