English translation is below ⇩
From an interview in June 2006 by Satoshi Chiba
Interview in English.
The sentence after ※ is my supplement.**
Q: How many times have you been to Japan?
D: This is the fifth time. My first visit to Japan was the Pacific Music Festival (PMF) which was founded by Bernstein in 1992, after a long break, I have been visiting Japan consistently. Currently I am a freelance singer. For instance, I've been singing in Bologna Opera which is currently in Japan, so I want to sing "Il Trovatore" with them. (laugh)
(※ MET and Bologna Opera House were in Japan at the same time in 2006)
Q: How do you think of Japan?
D: I have a deep respect for Japan, which is geography a neighborhood country of Russia. Speaking as a Russian, although Japan and Russia were hostile relationship during the WWII, Russians have a very high respect for Japan's wonderful culture. No need to mention that Japan's rapid growth of economy and now Japan is the one of leading countries in the world. Perhaps the country possesses the deep tradition can envision the future development.
Q: Could you tell us your favorite role in your opera?
D: I have a couple of them (laugh). I am planning to sing Simon Boccanegra in Houston, Paris and Venice. I love Verdi. I like dramatic, challenging, complex characters. It is not important for me to sing longer, I would like to play a key role in the drama. Rigoletto and Germont are challenging as these characters express various emotions with many conflicts.
Q: Current tour of Metropolitan Opera's "La Traviata" is sensation! How is your thoughts?
D: It is quite wonderful as a whole production, music, casts, orchestra. Sometimes I am listening and impressed! (Smile) Japanese audiences do not react much during the performance, although I feel that they express the excitement with huge applauds with highest respect at the end of performance.
Q: Who is your favorite co-star?
D: (think for a moment) Well, it is difficult to narrow down to one person ... If only one person, I would say Gergiev who is also my friend. Working with him is always wonderful. However, there are so many other favorite co-stars. Rene Pape is a wonderful bass singer. Also, Renee Fleming, who is singing together this time, is a very unique singer. I have organized my own concert, "Hvorostovsky & Friends" in Russia. There are a lot of singers appearing in the concert. Fleming, Gheorghiu, Alagna, Vargas, Villazon, ... (laughing) These are really wonderful singers. In the nearest future, I've been scheduled to sing with Pape.
Q: I would like to talk about this recital. Do you have any theme for the program?
D: I've brought the current program in various locations around the world. It is focused on the theme of "death". Death is the unavoidable factor for human, life is its opposition, and love. Life, love, and death are fundamental elements of art. I am delighted to bring Mussorgsky's "Songs and Dance for Death" in this program. It is formed by 4 songs with a various characters, and I'd like you to listen to it. Although, I wish you enjoying it as a performance, I do not dance (laugh). I think it is also a one-person show in the theater.
Q: Thank you. Do you have any message to your audiences?
D: (For a long thought ...) For me, the music is very important like religion. I believe that the music teaches a lot of things such as love, feeling, forgiveness, respect for others. I am delightful if you share my special attachment for the music in my recital!