Karine M. Mkrtchyan

In 1993 Karina Serbina (Mkrtchyan) graduated from the Gnesin Music College.

While still a student there, in 1991 she worked as a chorus artist with the State Academic Russian Choir of the USSR.

In 1993 she entered the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music and in 1998 graduated with a degree in Solo Singing.

In 1998 Karina Serbina won First Prize at the All‑Russian competition «Romansiada‑98».

In 1999 she took part in the Maria Callas International Vocal Competition in Athens, where she was awarded Second Prize. Following her success in Greece, she sang the role of Violetta in Verdi’s «La Traviata» in a new production at the Novaya Opera Theatre under Evgeny Kolobov, and also in the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Since March 1999 Karina Serbina has worked with the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia as a soloist of the opera company.

During her time at the Bolshoi Theatre she has appeared in premiere and repertory productions, singing the following leading roles:

• 1999  — debut as Violetta in Verdi’s «La Traviata»;
• 1999  — Racheline in Paisiello’s «La molinarа» («The Beautiful Miller’s Wife»);
• 1999  — the She‑makhan Tsaritsa in Rimsky‑Korsakov’s «The Golden Cockerel»;
• 2000  — Oscar in Verdi’s «Un ballo in maschera»;
• 2002  — the Snow Maiden in Rimsky‑Korsakov’s «The Snow Maiden» (premiere, director Dmitry Belov);
• 2004  — the Nun in Prokofiev’s «The Fiery Angel» (premiere, director Francesca Zambello, conductor Alexander Vedernikov);
• 2005  — the Refugee in Leonid Desyatnikov’s «The Children of Rosenthal» (premiere, director Eimuntas Nekrošius, conductor Alexander Vedernikov);
• 2005  — Antonida in Glinka’s «Ivan Susanin» («A Life for the Tsar»);
• 2005  — the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s «Die Zauberflöte» (premiere, director Graham Vick, conductor Stuart Bedford);
• 2007  — Prilepa in Tchaikovsky’s «The Queen of Spades» (premiere, director Valery Fokin, conductor Mikhail Pletnev).

Her repertoire also includes Musetta («La Bohème» G. Puccini), Martha («The Tsar’s Bride» N. Rimsky‑Korsakov), Francesca («Francesca da Rimini» S. Rachmaninov), and Lucia («Lucia di Lammermoor» G. Donizetti).

Karina Serbina has appeared in popular‑music programmes with the Bolshoi Theatre Wind Orchestra.

With the Bolshoi company she has toured to London, Slovenia, and Novosibirsk (in Prokofiev’s «The Fiery Angel»).

Her concert repertoire includes romances and arias from operas by Russian and foreign composers, including Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky‑Korsakov, Glinka, Taneyev, Alyabiev, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, Donizetti, Delibes, Gounod, Schubert, and many others.

She also appears in popular‑music concerts with various orchestras, among them:

• the Presidential Orchestra;
• the Russian State Symphony Cinema Orchestra;
• the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra;
• the Silantyev Academic Grand Concert Orchestra;
• the Lundstrem Orchestra;
• the Vivaldi Orchestra, and many others.

She has appeared on Moscow’s leading concert stages, including:

• the State Kremlin Palace;
• the Rossiya State Concert Hall;
• the Hall of Columns;
• the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall;
• the Moscow International House of Music, and many others.

Since 1992 Karina Serbina has toured widely with recital programmes not only across Russia but also abroad, including the USA, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore, Scotland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, India, and other countries.

• 2005  — tour of the USA, including the opera houses of Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other cities;
• 2006  — solo programme at the World Economic Forum in Davos;
• 2008  — performance at the «Days of Russian Culture in India» concert in Delhi;
• 2009  — performance at the «Days of Russian Culture in Mongolia» concert in Ulaanbaatar;
• 2010  — performance at the «Days of Russia» concert in Vancouver during the Olympic Games;
• 2013  — performance at the «Days of Russia» concert in Armenia, held in Yerevan, and so on.

In 2014 Karina Serbina began teaching voice at the Institute of Theatrical Art, later working as a vocal teacher at the Song Theatre «Talisman» (2019–2022).

Since 2021 she has worked with the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music as a vocal instructor.

Karina Serbina is actively involved in public and charitable work, collaborating with organisations such as the «Liniya zhizni» («Life Line») Foundation, the Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker Foundation, the «Podari zhizn» («Gift of Life») Foundation, and the Moscow House of War and Armed Forces Veterans.

She has maintained a long‑standing and fruitful creative partnership with the Romansiada Charitable Foundation for the Preservation of the Art of the Russian Romance since 2002. Her recitals are always eagerly anticipated and leave a deep emotional impression, exerting a positive influence on the moral state of her audiences.

The singer takes an active part in concerts organised by the Moscow Department of Culture, including performances in city parks (Sokolniki, Tsaritsyno, Gorky Park), award ceremonies, City Day celebrations, and «Days of Moscow» events in Kaliningrad, Lipetsk, and elsewhere.

Karina Serbina has taken part in television programmes on the channels Kultura, TVC, NTV, Channel One, and Rossiya, including:

• 2004  — the role of Nelly Sheremeteva in the television series «Children of the Arbat» (director Andrei Eshpai).

Voice work (dubbing):

• 2009  — Princess Aurora in «Sleeping Beauty» (1959, USA, animated feature);
• 2018  — Princess Aurora in «Ralph Breaks the Internet» (2018, USA, animated feature).

Publication:

• The Russian Economic Internet Journal, 26 April 2016, 5th International Distance Research‑and‑Practice Conference: article «The Relevance of Stanislavsky’s Pedagogical System in the Vocal Training of Today’s Theatre Actor».

Awards and distinctions include:

• 1998  — First Prize laureate diploma at the 2nd All‑Russian Open Competition for Young Performers of the Russian Romance «Romansiada‑98»;
• 1999  — Second Prize laureate diploma at the Maria Callas «Grand Prix» International Competition (Athens, Greece);
• 2000  — Letter of Appreciation from the editorial board of Nezavisimaya gazeta;
• 2001  — Honorary diploma of the 38th Francesc Viñas International Singing Competition (Barcelona, Spain);
• 2001  — Jubilee badge of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia «225 Years of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia»;
• 2005  — Letter of Appreciation from the commander of military unit No. 35533;
• «Star Certificate» from the Moscow Department of Culture’s Sokolniki Park of Culture and Rest;
• 2006  — laureate diploma of the 4th Moscow International Festival of Music of Russian Country Estates «Dvorjanskiye sezony» («Noble Seasons»);
• Letter of Appreciation from the Governor of Vologda Region;
• 2007  — Letter of Appreciation from Seasons magazine (Sanoma Independent Media);
• 2008  — Letter of Appreciation from Elite Profi Line Agency LLC;
• 2009  — Letter of Appreciation from the FSB Cultural Centre of Russia;
• Letter of Appreciation from the Festa Production Centre LLC;
• 2010  — Letter of Appreciation from the «Liniya zhizni» Foundation for Saving Critically Ill Children;
• Letter of Appreciation from Festa‑tour LLC (Moscow);
• Letter of Appreciation from AFP‑Show LLC;
• Letter of Appreciation from the newspaper «Na Rublyovke»;
• 2011  — Honorary certificate of the Stolitsa Production Centre of the Moscow Musical Society;
• 2012  — Honorary certificate of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation;
• Letter of Appreciation from the Central Administrative District Department of Culture of Moscow;
• «For Valiant Labour» medal from the Government of Moscow (South‑Eastern Administrative District).