Hungarian opera singer with Russian origin
Merited and Excellent Artist of the Republic of Hungary Recipient of the Hungarian Order of Merit
"All my roles played at opera performances are the sum of my life with its difficulties, experiences, joy and sorrow. I have used all my life experience to form the characters of the heroes I have played. Therefore the person appearing on the scene with his behaviour, deeds dating back to ancient times does not differ at all from today's people's deeds and perhaps this is why the modern opera audience feels it so close."
Anatoly Fokanov finished his studies at the Music Academy of Novosibirsk as a singer, a teacher and chorus master.
Thereafter he became a soloist at the Opera in Novosibirsk, followed by similar positions in several large cities in his country, including Saratov, Ufa, Dusambe. In 1991 Anatoly Fokanov won the first prize at the prestigious Sobinov competition.
In Russia, he sang all of the significant operatic baritone roles. He worked with conductors such as I.Zak, A.Katz and K.Kondrasin. After several years acting as guest singer at the Hungarian State Opera he has become a member since 1992. In recent years he appeared as a guest singer in the following countries: France, Egypt, Croatia, Israel, Thailand, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Poland, Italy, England, Cyprus, Serbia, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, China and also Japan where he performs frequently.
His Awards:
2017. Hungarian Order of Merit, Officers' Cross - Civilian section
2017. Chamber singer of the Hungarian State Opera House
2012. Székely Mihály - Memory Plaquatte (The Hungarian State Opera House)
2010. Outstanding Artist of the Hungarian Republic
2006. Melis György - Award (The Hungarian State Opera House)
2006. Eternal membership in the Society of the Hungarian Immortal Artists. (TV Award granted on the basis of public votes)
2004. Merited Artist of the Hungarian Republic
2024. A permanent member of the Hungarian State Opera House