Russian baritone Konstantin Shushakov was awarded Second Prize at Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition in 2011 and was a prizewinner at the 2011 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. He studied at Izhevsk Music College, and at the Russian Academy of Theatrical Art with Georgy Ansimov and Yuri Udalov. Since 2019, he has been a member of the ensemble at Opernhaus Zürich.
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Prince Yeletsky / The Queen of Spades
Opera de Lyon, March 2024
The superb Russian baritone Konstantin Shushakov – admirable in tone and phrasing – is exceptional as Yeletsky, and we can only regret that Tchaikovsky did not develop his role more!
Emmanuel Andrieu, Classique News
Konstantin Shushakov [is an] excellent Eletski . . . phrasing his “ Ya vas lyublyu ” with elegance and emotion.
Stéphane Lelièvre, Première Loge
Konstantin Shushakov gives Eletski a rich tone and adapts to the unexpected evolution that the production imposes on his character.
Laurent Berry, concertclassic.com
Prince Eletski by Konstantin Shushakov reveals the great beauty of a line whose juvenility does not prevent it from being in line with the Russian school of singing. He is a revelation in this staging which gradually puts him at the forefront of the subject.
Jean-Luc Clairet, ResMusica
Baritone Konstantin Shushakov conveys the benevolence of Prince Yeletski, despite the atmosphere of the production. The voice is very clear, medium format but intensely projected. Its silver tone, tinged with melancholy, unfolds with poetry in its declaration of love.
Joël Heuillon, Olyrix
Resplendent with youth, Konstantin Shushakov's Yeletski sings his tune perched on a cloud of legato.
Emmanuel Dupuy, Diapason
Prince Eletski by Konstantin Shushakov, Russian baritone, is a juvenile character to whom the singer lends his young man's silhouette, which almost contrasts with his powerful and dark voice reflecting the more usual image of the aristocrat engaged, loving and abandoned by Lisa . His “Ia tibia lioubliou” (I love you) is full of contrasts and almost conventional, reasoned passion.
Helene Adam, cult.news
The Duke of Nottingham, Roberto Devereux
Zürich Opera House, January 2023
"The Russian baritone Konstantin Shushakov , who made his debut as Duca di Nottingham that evening, convinced with fine nuances and noble expression, both vocally and in terms of acting. His transformation from Roberto's friend to his enemy was impressive."
Marco Stücklin, Das Opernmagazin
"The Russian baritone Konstantin Shushakov fights as Duca di Nottingham with tongues of angels for his friend Roberto. He steadfastly holds out his beguiling coloraturas to the iron lady on the throne."
Werner M. Grimmel, Frankfurter Allgemeine
"Konstantin Shushakov, who designed the Duca di Nottingham for the first time in Zurich. His sonorous baritone gave this double betrayed character a real tragedy, but Shushakov was also able to convince as an actor."
Sibylle Ehrismann, Senior Web
"As her husband, the Duke of Nottingham, Konstantin Shushakov showed the virtuosity of which his elegantly led baritone is capable and rounded off his effective interpretation with a gripping argument with his wife that got under your skin."
Marco Aranowicz, Opera Gazet
Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem
Opernhaus Zürich, February 2021
I was keen to hear the young Russian baritone, Konstantin Shushakov – and he was magnificent. Hardly looking at the score, he delivered a commanding, virile, stentorian performance – with faultless German diction.
John Rhodes, Seen and Heard International, 8 February 2021
Andrei Shchelkalov, Boris Godunov
Opernhaus Zürich, September 2020
For the real Russian flavour, one marvelled at the tone and force of baritone Konstantin Shushakov, perfect in the minor role of Schtschelkalov, Secretary of the Duma
John Rhodes, Seen and Heard International, 22 September 2020
Title role, Eugene Onegin
Vancouver Opera, April 2018
In Konstantin Shushakov, Vancouver Opera have found a singing actor who perfectly embodies both the repressed snob and the impassioned suppliant. Controlled and confident acting in projected video clips combined with a strong, assured lyrical baritone on stage carry Onegin’s equivocal character to the end and heighten Onegin’s ultimate heartbreak.
Elizabeth Paterson, Review Vancouver, April 2018
Konstantin Shushakov [was] intensely believable as Onegin, taking us straight to the brooding aristocrat’s inner world
Robert Jordan, Opera Canada, 2 May 2018
Shushakov nails the broody, arrogant character who will come to regret his actions
Janet Smith, The Georgia Straight, 30 April 2018
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