|
Elena Katulskaya (1888-1966)
was a prominent Russian
singer (soprano) and teacher, professor of the Moscow Conservatory.
Having graduated from N. Iretskaya’s class at the St. Petersburg
Conservatory, she made her successful debut in the title role of L.
Delibes’ Lakme at the Mariinsky Theatre. She performed a number of
leading roles on this stage (including partnering F. Shalyapin and L.
Sobinov). In 1913 she became a soloist at the Bolshoi Theatre and
remained there until 1946. According to Kirill Kondrashin’s memoirs,
Katulskaya was not only a wonderful and highly professional singer, but
an absolutely indispensable member of the team and in later years she
would often sing 5 performances a week, replacing indisposed singers. On
the operatic stage she sang 46 roles, among her best were - Antonida and
Lyudmila in Glinka’s operas, The Snow Maiden, Volkhova («Sadko»), Martha
(«Tsar’s Bride»), Queen of Shemakhan («The Golden Cockerel»), Violetta
(«La Traviata») Gilda («Rigoletto»), etc. Until her last years at the
theater she successfully sang Rosina («Barber of Seville»). Katulskaya
was a unique chamber singer performing for more than half a century
(until 1958). Her extensive concert repertoire covered many different
styles and eras (more than 700 pieces).
|
