The Russian bass Gennady Bezzubenkov has been a member of the Mariinsky Theatre ensemble since 1989. Opera engagements have taken him to venues including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Opéra Bastille in Paris, the Royal Opera House in London, the Liceu in Barcelona, La Scala in Milan, the Bavarian State Opera, Lyon, Valencia, and the festivals in Aix-en-Provence, Edinburgh, and Savonlinna. He performed the role of Old Major in the world premiere of Animal Farm in Amsterdam and will also perform it at the Vienna State Opera.