Russian-women.net

Great Russian women

Nadezhda Obukhova (1886 - 1961) was the Soviet singer, mezzo-soprano, soloist with the Bolshoi Theater. Stalin Prize winner, People's Artist of the USSR.

Those who have ever head her singing alive were enchanted by both unique, exuberant 'mezzo', reaching naturally contralto, the beauty, grace and the manner of singing as if she was sharing her soul with the public. Pianist Heinrich Neuhaus said that "he who even once hears her voice, will never forget it..."

Obukhova came from an artistic family. Two of her uncles were professional singers, one of whom was the opera director of the Bolshoi Theatre. Her grandfather Adrian Mazaraki was a noted pianist, and her great-grandfather Yevgeny Boratinsky was a poet of some fame.

Recalling her childhood memories Nadezhda Obukhova said she began to sing as early as she remembered herself and was always touched by sad Russian songs about hard fate of a Russian woman. This was her grandfather who taught her singing and playing the piano and when she was 12 Nadia could play Chopin, Gaidn and Mozart.

Nadezhda's mother died of tuberculosis when little Nadya was only 2. Her grandfather was concerned about Nadezhda's health and often sent her and her sister to spend winters in Nice, France, where Obukhova received her first singing lessons from Eleanora Lipman and professor Ozerov. There she got her first impressions of art and musical life of France, first visited the opera and heard famous Fyodor Shalyapin during his foreign tour.

In 1907, Obukhova was enrolled at the Moscow Conservatory, where she was instructed by Umberto Masetti. After her graduation, she found work singing in various concerts around Russia, but she did not make her operatic debut until 1916. Her operatic debut was in the role of Pauline in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades at the Bolshoi. She quickly became a popular singer, appearing in a number of other productions including Carmen, Dalila, The Tsar's Bride (as Marfa and as Lyubasha), The Snow Maiden, Der Ring des Nibelungen (as Fricka), Marina, Love for Three Oranges and Sadko.

Nadezhda Obukhova performed more then 25 roles at the Bolshoi theatre, each of which became a precious part of Russian vocal and theatrical art. Her performances were full of deep feelings and emotive expressivity and her female characters were interpreted with great tenderness and passion. Nadezhda Obukhiova was said to be singing the true meaning of composer's intentions and used her magnificent voice and musical artistry as a key to unlock the mysteries of the heart.

Obukhova also won the popularity of a chamber singer. She performed various musical pieces ranging from old romances and folk songs to complicated airs of Russian and foreign composers displaying the refined style, charm and artistry.

Obukhova retired as an opera singer in 1943 and was fully engaged in the concert performances. She died in the Crimea in August 1961, two months after giving her last concert.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only. The author provides no warranty about the content or accuracy of content enclosed.

Nadezhda Obukhova. Famous Russian-Women: Nadezhda Obukhova, a Soviet singer, soloist of Bolshoi Theater. Nadezhda Obukhova, one of the best opera voices in history of Russia and the world.

Great Russian women

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only. The author provides no warranty about the content or accuracy of content enclosed.