Ildar pursuit

Our good friends (and advertisers) at Maestro Artist Management have been wondering just how much you, the cher public, know about Ildar Abdrazakov. To test your knowledge, they are offering a coveted prize to two lucky parterrrians who can answer the trivia questions that follow the jump.

Please answer a single trivia question in the comment section below, cher public; if you want to attempt both questions, please post separate comments for each. The first correct answer to each question (to the satisfaction of that highest judge of the parterre court, your doyenne herself) will win the commenter a pair of tickets to the bass-baritone’s Carnegie Hall recital on January 29.

Ready? Start playing!

First question: Recently, Ildar Abdrazakov accepted the position of Artistic Director at a prestigious international music organization named for a celebrated opera singer. Please name this organization and explain what role that famous artist played in Ildar’s career.

Second question: Name the city in which Ildar Abdrazakov was born and give the names of three other internationally famous Russian performing artists who started their careers in this city.

Hurry, cher public, as this contest ends at midnight on Friday, January 23!