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Vitaly Kilchevsky (1899-1986) was one of the famous Russian tenors of
the Soviet period. For many years he sang as a soloist at theatres in
Leningrad - Mikhailovsky (from 1936) and the Mariinsky (from 1944). He
performed at the Bolshoi theatre, in Moscow, between 1947 and 1955. He
studied singing under the outstanding singer and teacher Sophia Akimova
(wife of the great tenor Ivan Yershov) at the Leningrad Conservatory.
Kilchevsky’s repertoire included many lyric tenor roles, such as
Vaudemont and Lensky («Iolanthe» and «Eugene Onegin»), Alfredo, Duke of
Mantua, Faust (Gounod), Almaviva, Romeo, Gerald etc. According to Ivan
Petrov’s memoirs, Kilchevsky was an artistic singer, possessed of a
lyric tenor voice which was particularly strong in the upper register.
His most famous recordings are - «The Maid of Orleans» by Tchaikovsky
(1946, the role of Charles VII) and Dargomizhsky’s «Rusalka» (1948, the
role of the Prince). His recorded heritage is also represented by
operatic arias, duets, songs and romances, as well as recordings of
recitals.
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