Mihails Čuļpajevs has been with the Latvian National Opera for several seasons, proving himself an excellent solo singer. He debuted as Truffaldino in Sergei Prokofiev’s opera The Love for Three Oranges in 2013 and delighted audiences and critics alike. Over the following years Čuļpajevs has excelled both vocally, as well as in his acting in a varied repertoire which has included the roles of Count Almaviva in Gioachino Rossini’s opera The Barber of Seville, Vladimir Lensky in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s opera Eugene Onegin, Le Remendado in Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, Walther von der Vogelweide in Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser, Brūkūzītis in Zigmars Liepiņš opera Turaidas Roze (The Rose of Turaida).

Čuļpajevs received his Master’s degree at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, and has participated in masterclasses with Axel Everaert, Nelly Miricioiu and other vocalists. He has further honed his skills in opera houses in the Netherlands and in the classic Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Čuļpajevs has been nominated for the Latvian Grand Music Awards in 2015 as Best Young Artist, and in 2017 received the Latvian National Opera Foundation Annual Award as Best Opera Soloist.

The roles that stand out in his 2018/2019 season are Peppe in Ruggero Leoncavallo’s opera Pagliacci, Daland’s Steerman in Wagner’s opera The Flying Dutchman, Ernesto in Gaetano Donizetti’s opera Don Pasquale, as well as the title role in Igor Stravinsky’s opera The Rake’s Progress.