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Margarita Elia – Soprano
Moscow-born Cypriot soprano Margarita Elia stud-
ied at theFranzLisztAcademyofMusic inDebrecen,
Hungary, graduating with a MMus degree in Vocal
Performance and Education – she then continued
her studies in London with New York City Opera
soloist Arlene Randazzo. She was finalist at La Voce
International Lied Competition 2005 in Bayreuth,
Germany. Elia has appeared as an opera soloist and
has performed with renowned orchestras in Hungary,
Bulgaria, Israel andPuertoRico, theMoscowVirtuosi
under Vladimir Spivakov and the Cyprus Symphony
Orchestra. She has given many world premieres at
major contemporarymusic festivals.
Vivien Cooksley – Mezzosoprano
Vivien Cooksley studied under mezzo-soprano
Margarita Lilova at the University of Music and
Dramatic Arts in Vienna, graduating with a Mas-
ters in Operatic Singing. She has also worked with
Frank Fanning, assistant to Herbert von Karajan;
Walter Berry, baritone; Hans Fuchsberger, head of
music studies at Vienna National Opera, and fa-
mous voice coach Carol Blaickner-Mayo. Cooksley
has appeared in major roles at the Verdi Theatre of
Trieste and at the International Festival St. Marga-
rethen. She has also been very active on the concert
stage, with performances at theAustria National TV
Centre ORF, and she is a regular guest at the “Mu-
sica Sacra” in Salzburg. Her appearances with the
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra includeMozart’s
Req-
uiem
and Schoenberg’s
Lied der Waldtaube
.
Kirlianit Cortes – Tenor
Kirlianit Cortes studied singing at the Great Theater
of Havana and at the University of Antioquia. In
1998 he was awarded the first prize in the National
Arts Competition Universidad del Valle, Mexico.
Cortes continued his studies at the University of
Music and Performing Arts of Vienna, where he
obtained the Magister Artium with mezzo-soprano
Ks. Marjana Lipovsek – he also studied with Ks.
Margarita Lilova and Ks. FranciscoAraiza. In 2004
Cortes made his debut at the Vienna Konzerthaus
and Kammeroper. He has performed major roles
at the Opera Festival of Schärding (Austria), Teatro
Lirico di Spoleto, Vest Norges Opera of Norway,
Opera Szczecin in Poland, Bunka Kai Kan, Tokyo
,
Wiener Musikverein andViennaVolksoper
.
In 2009
he won the second prize in the European Tenor
Contest-Jan Kiepura in Poland. Cortes’s repertoire
comprises a wide range of sacred and secular cho-
ral masterpieces; his recordings include Rossini’s
Il signor Bruschino
and
La scala di seta
and the J.
Strauss operetta
Die Göttin der Venunft.
Russi Nikoff – Baritone
Bulgarian baritone Russi Nikoff graduated from
the Musical Academy “Pancho Vladigerov” spe-
cialising in Opera Singing. He also worked with
Tamara Gorinova and attended master classes at
the European Opera Center; he also attended mas-
ter classes with Renata Scotto, Costas Paskalis and
Gena Dimitrova. Nikoff also worked in Vienna,
Austria, where he established a connection with
Prof. Marta Lantieri (producer and vocal peda-
gogue) and Ks. Krassimira Stoyanova. During his
second year of college Nikoff made his debut at the
Burgas Opera, after which he was appointed solo-
ist at the Opera. In the following years he gained
invaluable experience under the guidance of Prof.
IvanVulpe. He has interpreted major roles in many
theatres in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Eng-
land, Portugal, Mexico, Hungary, Japan, Egypt and
Bulgaria, as well as at opera festivals such as Tibor
Margarita Elia
Kirlianit Cortes
Russi Nikoff
Vivien Cooksley