Albina Shagimuratova

I had no interest at all in opera or singing. I saw my fellow students struggling with their scores, laboring to memorize operatic roles, and I thought, 'That's not for me!' ”

Bel canto is my passion, and I really consider myself a bel canto singer. ”

I spend so much time in the United States, and I really like this country. I like the people; I like the atmosphere. It's a confident country economically, compared to others. ”