I. Bogatchova, mezzo soprano, graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory completing the vocal course of Prof. I. Levando.

In 1962 she became a laureate at the All-Union Glinka Competition and in 1967 won Grand Prix at the International Competition of Opera Singers in Rio de Janeiro. Since 1963 I. Bogatchova has been a soloist with the Mariinsky Theatre.

In 1968-1970 she studied with Prof. Barr at La Scala, Italy.

Her many roles in the Mariinsky Theatre have included: Carmen in Bizet’s Carmen; Amneris in Aida, Eboli in Don Carlo, Azucena in Il Trovatore, and Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera by Verdi; Marina Mnishek in Boris Godunov and Marfa in Khovanshchina by Mussorgsky, Lyubasha in The Tsar’s Bride and Kashcheyevna in Kashchei the Immortal by Rimsky-Korsakov; Countess and Polina in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades and others. She has also sung as a guest star in many international premieres.

I. Bogatchova maintains a high profile with recitals in Italy, Norway, France, China, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain, Germany and other countries. She was the first to perform Shoctakovich’s vocal cycle “Six Poems by Marina Tsvetayeva” at the request of the composer himself.

I. Bogatchova is People’s Artist of the USSR and the recipient of the highest and honorary national prizes; she is Head of the Vocal Department at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and Honorary Citizen of St. Petersburg.