Described as “gifted with a sumptuous timbre and impeccably disciplined,” Elena Gabouri “impresses with her athletic voice and an undeniable charisma” and is easily identifiable as a Verdian and Wagnerian dramatic mezzo-soprano. Born in Saint Petersburg, French-Russian Mezzo Soprano Elena Gabouri studied at the St. Petersburg National Conservatory under Tamara Novichenko (professor of Anna Netrebko), the Paris National Conservatory, then at the Cortot Paris School, where she won the Singing Prize Unanimous with Congratulations of the Jury. 

Her international career launched in 2012 when she made her role debut as Amneris in Verdi’s Aida at Arena di Verona under Maestro Daniel Oren. Since this debut, the character of Amneris has played a significant role in her international career leading to performances around the globe including the Centenary Festival of Arena di Verona in 2013, the Aspendos Festival in Turkey in 2014 under Maestro Tulio Gagliardo, the Seoul Arts Center in 2015 under Maestro Gianpaolo Bisanti, the Herodes Atticus Ancient Theater of Athens for the Greek National Opera in 2016, Seattle Opera under the baton of John Fiore in 2018, and in Australia since 2018. In 2013 Elena Gabouri made her debut as Azucena in Verdi’s Il Trovatore at Arena di Verona. She reprised Azucena at Opéra de Lille and the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg in 2016 and at Seattle Opera in 2019. In 2014 at Arena di Verona, Ms. Gabouri made her debut as Ulrica in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera; a role she sang again at the Seoul Arts Center in 2016 and at the Teatro Petruzzelli in 2020.

Gabouri encapsulates dynamic characters such as the Princess de Bouillon in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur in Sassari in 2014, Kabanicha in Janáček‘s Káťa Kabanová between 2011 and 2015 at Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord of Paris, Operadagen Rotterdam, Teatros del Canal of Madrid, and on tour on the national stages of France, Zia Principessa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica at the Wexford Festival in 2008, and Madame de la Haltière in Massenet’s Cendrillon at Massy Opera in 2007.

Her repertoire includes contemporary roles such as Irma in Peter Eötvös’s Le Balcon, performed at the Besançon Opera and Dijon Opera. Under the baton of Vassily Petrenko, Elena Gabouri recorded a CD of Fleishman’s The Rothschild’s Violin in the role of Marfa with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2016, under the baton of Jean-Claude Casadesus and Orchestra national de Lille, Elena Gabouri has sung Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem, Brahms’ “Alto Rhapsody,” and Prokofiev’s “Alexander Nevsky”.

In 2018 she began the collaboration with Opera Australia, appearing as Amneris in the new digital production of Aida at the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Art Center, and Brisbane Opera in 2018, 2021 and soon in 2023. In Spring of 2022 she returned to Melbourne for her role debut as Ortrud in Wagner’s Lohengrin with Jonas Kaufmann in the title role. In Summer of 2022 Ms. Gabouri returned to the role of Azucena in a new production Il Trovatore at the Sydney Opera House.

Amidst an impressive repertoire, Ms. Gabori has gained accolades in the form of 1st Prize of Arles Opera Competition, Grand Prix of the Vivonne Singing Competition, 2nd Prize and the Audience Prize of the Catalan Singing Competition, The Jury Prize of the Corsican Competition, and 2nd Prize of the Ramfis Competition.