“… Margarita Slepakova was a delightful Dido, in the richness of the aliquots of her mezzo-soprano containing emotions absolutely consistent with her stage prowess.” – (A. Suprynowicz, Dwutygodnik)
“Her voice is of great elegance, firm and sonorous, with an excellent projection” – (Classique News)
“(…) my favorite, endowed with a remarkable tone of voice and full of charisma mezzo-soprano Margarita Slepakova (Cecilio, Opera Rara)” – (Mateusz Borkowski, Ruch Muzyczny)
Margarita Slepakova is a coloratura mezzo-soprano based in Basel and Warsaw. After graduating from Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the prestigious Monteverdi Apprenticeship program under the guidance of Sir John Eliot Gardiner, she enjoys an international career as an opera, concert, and recital singer cooperating with ensembles and orchestras in Europe.
She has won a 1st prize at the Austrian Baroque Academy Award (Austria), a 1st prize at the London Music Competition (UK), 3rd prize at the St. Cecilia International Music Competition (Italy), 3rd prize at the IXth ARS MUSICA International Music Festival and Vocal Competition (Poland), Honorable Mention at the IVth International Monika Swarowska -Walawska Vocal Competition & Festival (Poland) and was a finalist at the XVth Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lyrica “Citta’ di Brescia” (Italy).
She has worked with conductors including Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Philippe Pierlot, Alessandro Moccia, Dirk Vermeulen, Bart Naessens, Andrea de Carlo, René Jacobs, Andrea Marcon, Giovanni Antonini, Kent Nagano, Riccardo Minasi, Ivor Bolton, Kristiina Poska, Florian Helgath.
Margarita has performed in some of the most prestigious concerts halls including Carnegie Hall, Harris Theater Chicago, and in concert halls including Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Musikverein Vienna, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, St.Petersburg State Capella, Palau di Musica Catalana, Mozarteum Salzburg, Philharmonies of Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Essen, Luxembourg and Budapest and opera houses of Zürich, Vienna, Basel, Antwerp, Ghent, Warsaw and Cracow.
She has recorded for Universal, Arcana- Outthere Music, Denovali Records, Wocomo Music Berlin.
Margarita pursued her vocal studies in the prestigious Schola Cantorum Basiliensis obtaining two diplomas of Master (2018) and a Specialized Master of Arts (2019) in historical performance in the classes of Gerd Türk and Rosa Dominguez. Before, she got her Bachelor’s diploma in singing at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in a class of prof. Jadwiga Rappé and another bachelor’s diploma in Culture Studies at Warsaw University. She also developed her skills by taking lessons from Margreet Honig, Anita Garanča, Valerie Guillorit, and during masterclasses with René Jacobs, Andrea Marcon, and Raphaël Pichon. Presently, she is further developing her vocal skills with prof. Christian Hilz and receives regular coaching from dr. Flavio Ferri-Benedetti and Nadia Carboni.
Her recent engagements include the role of Dido in Dido & Aenesas by Henry Purcell at Warsaw Chamber Opera, the role of Cecilio in Lucio Silla by W. A. Mozart with Capella Cracoviensis at the Opera Rara festival, the role of Maria Maddalena in La Resurrezione by G. F. Haendel in Bern & Fribourg, recording the role of Lucinda in Moro per Amore by Alessandro Stradella with Ensemble Mare Nostrum under the direction of Andrea de Carlo for Arcana – Outhere Music label and during a series of shows in Italy; a role of Poppea in “L’incoronazione di Poppea” by Claudio Monteverdi for Opern Fest in Berlin, a role of Ariel in Purcell’s The Tempest in Collegium Nobilium Theater in Warsaw, Alto Solo part with B’rock Orchestra in Opera Vlaanderen in Antwerp and Ghent in production of “Cantus Firmus/Mea Culpa”.
Her numerous oratorio solo performances include i. a. “Missa in Angustiis” (Haydn), Oratorio de Noël (Saint-Saëns), “B Minor Mass”, “Weihnachtsoratorium”, “Actus Tragicus” (J.S. Bach), “Jesu Membra Nostri” (Buxtehude), “Salve Regina (Porpora), “Nisi Dominus” (Vivaldi), “Stabat Mater” (Brunetti, Pergolesi & Vivaldi) and others performed in Switzerland, France, Italy, and Germany.
She is a founder and curator of ensemble Le Sommeil, a concept project inspired by C.G. Jung’s philosophy, exploring the connections between myth, archetype, and dream through the medium of Baroque music. Ensemble focuses on rarely performed French Baroque music including cantatas by Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, one of the first recognised female composers in music history. The first single of Le Sommeil “Sur une mer” has been published by Universal as a part of the film soundtrack “Wolf” starring Lily-Rose Depp and George McKay.
Margarita’s recent recitals include: a program including arias by Haendel, Marais, and Eccles with the ensemble El Gran Teatro del Mundo; a song recital with a pianist Marek Bracha with lieder by Mahler, Zemlinsky, Weinberg, Schubert, and Andre Tchaikovsky, a program of arias and songs of Henry Purcell at the Baroque Vivant Basel, and recitals with her ensemble Le Sommeil during the Freunde Alter Musik Basel concert series and Early Music Festival at the Wilanow Palace in Warsaw.
She has also sung contemporary music compositions and premiered music written particularly for her i.a. the premiere of a new piece by composer Stefan Wesołowki during the festival Eufonie in Warsaw. Her particular interest in combining elements of early music tradition with contemporary arts resulted in collaboration with audio designer Clemens Fiechter and the creation of an art sound installation “Das Rezitativ” shown in modern art galleries in Vienna, London, and Warsaw. Her other contemporary music collaborations include recording an album with experimental electronic band Nanook of the North and concerts in Gdańsk at the St. John’s Cathedral and Constellations Festival.