Yulia Petrachuk, soprano

04/29/2026

If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the podium — this one is for you.
Special episode with Daiana Hoffmann.
Credits: Monologues on Art (Svetlana Nesterenko Center). English version by Yulia Petrachuk.
🎧 Across Oceans Podcast — link in bio.

04/27/2026

Our conversation with bass-baritone Denis Sedov is now available in English 🇺🇸 on the Across Oceans podcast.🎙️

Denis shares his perspective on vocal longevity and the opera industry today.
Watch the full episode — link in bio.👆🔗

04/10/2026

Sunset, the sea, and people lost in a moment — that’s what I love to film most.
There is something magical in these simple, living frames.

Thank you to Hemant ThakuR for posing for one of them,
and thank you for the beautiful cover of “She Running Out the Door” by Sung Joon. ❤️

India 🇮🇳, Goa, on Candolim Beach.🏖️

04/07/2026

After Nagano, our journey continued to Kyoto, home to the famous International Manga Museum. I’m personally not really into manga, but I went because of my niece, who is in Russia and loves drawing in this style. I wanted to bring her something connected to that world.

For those who don’t know, manga is Japanese comic art — a form of visual storytelling that combines illustration and narrative. It took its modern shape after World War II, though its roots go much deeper in Japanese culture.

What surprised me most was the atmosphere. So many children and teenagers were spending hours there, completely absorbed in reading. They left their shoes outside, lay on the floors of the manga library, and read all day long.

And that was what struck me most: at a time when people often say that young generations can’t focus for long, here were children and teens lying on the floor for hours, fully immersed in stories.

It didn’t feel like a museum in the usual sense. It felt like a living world — a place where stories are not kept behind glass, but truly lived.

04/06/2026

Can’t believe it was only two weeks ago! 😀
Japan 🇯🇵, Nagano, Shiga Kogen ⛷️, Monkey Mountain 🐒

03/20/2026

“No one cares about opera and ballet anymore,” Timothée Chalamet said.
And as an opera and classical music producer who cares deeply about the art form’s future, I’ll say this: that’s a reality we have to face.

What was even more uncomfortable was watching parts of the opera world react like an offended aristocracy. Some theaters even used Timothée’s name as a discount promo code — as if his name can only be associated with “cheap tickets” and being “not sophisticated enough.” That isn’t confidence. It’s arrogance.

And the irony? His comment brought attention. In many places, performances sold out. Instead of getting curious — why does his generation feel this way? What do young people think opera is? — parts of the industry rushed to declare: “We’re fine. We’re successful.”

But we’re not fine. Public funding for the arts in the U.S. is limited, and institutions are increasingly pushed to chase private money just to survive. If opera wants a future, we don’t need wounded pride. We need curiosity, humility, and real change.

02/19/2026

Volkonskaya’s Lullaby — from Russian Women 🕯️
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Performing this scene was a truly unforgettable experience—because Princess Maria Volkonskaya wasn’t a fictional heroine. She was a real historical person, and this story is rooted in real events.

In Russian Women by Tatyana Chudova (a chamber opera in 10 scenes for two soloists and piano, on texts by Nekrasov, Pushkin, and the Decembrist poets), we follow the path of the Decembrists’ wives—from the arrest of their husbands to Siberian exile.

And in Scene III, my heroine, Volkonskaya, sings a lullaby to her newborn son… while preparing to leave.

We will never fully understand what those women lived through—we only know the facts. One of them is almost impossible to say out loud: to follow her husband into exile, she had to renounce her child. And later, that child died.

Singing this lullaby, I wasn’t thinking about “acting.” I was thinking about a woman standing at the edge of a choice no one should ever have to make—trying to place love into a melody, because words aren’t enough.

If you listen, tell me what you hear in it: comfort, grief, strength… or something else.

02/18/2026

This episode is where Across Oceans began. 💙

My very first guest was opera director Daria Zholnerova, and we recorded our conversation back in September in Lebanon🇱🇧— between suitcases, schedules, and that exact moment when you realize: we should hit “record” and start.

The interview was originally in Russian and already was posted, and today I’m releasing an English version, created with the help of AI translation. 👩🏽‍💻
It’s the same conversation — now accessible to more listeners across borders.

✨ This is Part 1 of our long interview.
In Part 1, Daria talks candidly about:
• admissions and training in creative universities in Russia vs. the U.S.
• how different systems shape confidence, responsibility, and professional habits
• what’s “normal” inside the industry — and why outsiders often don’t see it
• the unglamorous reality behind international careers

🎥 Part 1 (English version) will be released today at 6:00 PM on my YouTube channel in podcast (link under BIO)
🇷🇺 The original Russian version with subtitles is already available (link under BIO)

02/16/2026

“Across Oceans” is a series of conversations with people who have studied or worked in both Russia and the United States, giving them a professional perspective from both sides.
We talk about real experience without simplifications: how education and the industry actually work, which rules truly matter, what it takes to relocate and adapt, which decisions change a career trajectory, and what helps you stay true to yourself in the profession.

🔗 https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJmQJWFKveCGVMnNBM7wIFKHiIUEdSIbW&si=IXGoIFkGB3RWOI-D

01/24/2025

01/23/2025

As a producer, I am constantly reminded why I love what I do. 🥰
A project that had been in preparation for several months finally came to life on the stage of the historic Hermitage Atrium! This was not just a concert — it was a celebration of the immense talent of composers and artists who poured their hearts into this unforgettable evening.

It was a joy to see “A Gershwin Herald” by Joseph Heart, which I was fortunate enough to bring from the United States to Russia, resonate so deeply with the audience and become a true celebration. 💥

I watched with immense pride as Daiana Hofmann, a conductor whose artistry is truly inspiring, brought the energetic world of Gershwin to life on stage. Her mastery, musical intuition, and ability to captivate the audience set a high bar for excellence.

I also want to highlight the phenomenal Mikhail Benediktov, whose performance on the piano was absolutely mesmerizing. Every touch of the keys transformed the intricate scores of Hart and Gershwin into touching and vibrant musical stories that struck a chord with every listener in the hall.

And, of course, my deepest admiration goes to Wm Joseph Heart, the composer who entrusted us with the premiere of his work. “A Gershwin Herald” became the centerpiece of the evening, reviving the spirit of 1920s New York and reminding us why Gershwin’s legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide.

To my dear artists — you were incredible. Evenings like this prove that music has the power to bridge time and space, creating moments that stay with us forever.

And, of course, thank you to our wonderful audience for your energy, applause, and love of music. You are the ones who made this night so special.

🎉 Here’s to many more evenings like this, where music comes alive and inspires us all!

P.S. As always, I was responsible for the technical aspects of the evening, including managing the live broadcast — so please, don’t judge too harshly! 😃
By the way, you can still watch the broadcast on Lyrica Classic Entertainment Inc. YouTube channel!