The most famous opera singers in the world

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Famous opera singers of the world are the basis of all classical vocal art. The successful performance of arias depends on the level of skill, which is formed over the years. As a rule, well-known opera singers began to study music in their childhood, studied at a music school, and then at the conservatory. Particularly gifted went on an internship at "La Scala" - the Milan Opera House, which is a kind of "mecca" of vocal art. On the legendary stage, works by great composers such as Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, Bellini, Giacomo Puccini were performed. The most famous opera singers performed arias from Madama Butterfly, Turandot and other masterpieces of opera art on the stage of La Scala. The Milan theater was founded in 1778 and has been a great school for aspiring performers ever since.

Public recognition

Famous opera singers make their contribution to world culture by performing on the most prestigious stages with crowded halls. Opera art is becoming more and more popular every day, interest in it is growing all over the world. The public tries not to miss a singlea performance in which famous opera singers and singers take part. And after the performance, grateful spectators present bouquets of flowers to the performers, thereby expressing their admiration.

The popularity of the artist opens the doors to the most prestigious theaters in the world, such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Vienna Opera House or the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Contracts are usually concluded for several seasons at once.

Performances with the participation of recognized performers are often scheduled a year in advance, viewers can get acquainted with the repertoire in advance, in January they can buy a ticket for a performance that is scheduled, for example, for August and, thus, meet their favorite singer or singer. Connoisseurs of opera art know all the world's masterpieces without exception and can choose a performer to their taste.

The most famous opera singers in the world

Talented performers, recognized masters of vocals, make up a certain creative group. Well-known opera singers are, first of all, soloists who bring high art to the masses. The virtuosic performance of arias is their "calling card", the audience goes to Placido Domingo, Maria Biescha or Dmitry Hvorostovsky.

There are times when high art brings together talented performers from the "famous opera singers" category. So it was when a magnificent trio was formed - Pavarotti Luciano, José Carreras and Placido Domingo. The most unsurpassed, famous opera singers, the three tenors, began to perform together, which produceda real success in the world of music. The audience accepted the joint work of the masters with delight and gratitude.

Luciano Pavarotti

The lyric tenor opera singer of Italian origin was one of the most famous performers of the 20th century. Thanks to his vocal mastery, the extraordinary ease of sound production, and his cheerful nature, Pavarotti became the star of the stage at the age of 24. Popularity was facilitated by frequent appearances in television programs, as well as publications in the press.

Luciano was one of the few opera singers who participated in events dedicated to pop music. He sang chanson with pleasure, hits of fashionable composers - and all this was accompanied by playful reprises and humoresques. Pavarotti had many friends in the world of rock music, he repeatedly held joint concerts, which were called "Pavarotti and Friends". However, at the same time, the singer invariably remained in his main status - an academic performer.

Luciano Pavarotti was actively involved in charitable activities and was even repeatedly awarded by the Italian government for his participation in fundraising projects for political refugees and the Red Cross organization. The singer for more than forty years of his career has done a lot in the art of opera, his name is forever inscribed in the Golden Fund of world culture.

Jose Carreras

Carreras José, Spanish-born opera singer (tenor), was born in 1946 in Barcelona. Has a unique tonevote. His interpretations of works by Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi are widely known. In 1972, he made his first appearance on the American stage in Puccini's opera Cio-Cio-san, as the main character, Lieutenant Pinkerton.

Two years later, Carreras played the role of the Duke of Mantua in Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto.

By the age of 28, the singer has performed more than two dozen roles in the classical operatic repertoire. And in 1987, Jose Carreras was overtaken by a terrible misfortune: doctors diagnosed him with blood cancer. Acute leukemia interrupted the singer's career for more than a year. Eventually the disease subsided, and Carreras set up a foundation to promote research into treatments for cancer.

After his recovery, Jose went to Moscow, where he took part in a charity concert dedicated to the earthquake in Armenia, together with Montserrat Caballe. Subsequently, the tenor came to Russia more than once on tour. José Carreras finished his performances on the opera stage in 2009.

Plácido Domingo

Famous lyric-dramatic tenor, opera singer of Spanish origin. Born in 1941. He is a production conductor at the Los Angeles Opera and the Washington Opera. One of the three most famous tenors in the world, along with Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarottti.

During his more than half a century of career, Placido Domingo performed 140 opera parts, which determines his unconditional superiority. In addition, the singer often participates in performances while at the conductor's stand. More than 100 opera performances with his participation have been recorded,where Domingo performs as a soloist and also sings a duet. 21 times the great tenor opened the season at the Metropolitan Opera, ahead of Enrique Caruso in this.

World famous performers

The heyday of opera came in the 20th century. All the most significant works were performed in the 30s of the last century. Almost all the popular opera singers of the world participated in musical performances of the 20th century. Their success was determined by public recognition. However, there were also famous opera singers in the second half of the 19th century. Many of them lived long, fruitful lives.

19th century classical music performers

The list includes the names of famous opera singers of the century before last:

• Irena Abendroth (1872-1932), soprano. She performed at the Vienna Opera.
• Pasquale Amato (1878-1942), baritone. Has performed at Milan's La Scala and New York's Metropolitan Opera.
• Karel Burian (1870-1924), tenor. Performed at the Vienna Opera.
• Eugenio Burzio (1872-1922), soprano. Was a soloist of "La Scala".
• Davydov Alexander (1872-1944), Russian tenor. Has performed at many opera houses.
• Maria Dolina (1868-1919), contr alto. Soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre.

20th century performers

The following list contains the names of famous opera singers of the 20th century:

• Elizaveta Shumskaya (1905-1987), soprano. Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.
• Gotlob Frick (1906-1994), bass. Dresden Opera, Covent Garden.
• Tatiana Troyanos (1938-1993), mezzo-soprano. Metropolitan Opera.
• Ivan Petrov (1920-2003), bass. Bolshoi Theatre.
• Jesse Norman, b. 1945, soprano. "La Scala".
• Jose Carreras, b. 1946, tenor. All world opera houses.
• Maria Callas (1923-1977), soprano. Metropolitan Opera.
• Montserrat Caballé, b. 1933, soprano. Covent Garden.
• Mario del Monaco (1915-1982), tenor. World Opera Houses.

Famous Russian opera singers

During the 20th century, several generations of talented performers have changed in Russia.

Today, famous Russian opera singers make up a significant part of the Golden Fund of Russian musical culture.

Legendary bass of Russia

Chaliapin Fedor Ivanovich (1873-1938) - Russian opera singer with an unusually strong bass, soloist of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and the New York Metropolitan Opera. People's Artist, was the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater in Leningrad. Comprehensively gifted, he was engaged in graphics, sculpture and painting. He had a huge impact on the development of world opera art.

Soprano

Vishnevskaya Galina Pavlovna (1926-2012) - Russian opera singer with a soprano of unique purity, actress, theater director and teacher. She was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland". Throughout her long life she has been engaged in fruitful activities, since 2006 she has been the chairman of the jury of international competitionsopera artists. At the same time, Galina Vishnevskaya played in Sokurov's film "Alexandra", showing herself as a talented dramatic actress.

Kazarnovskaya Lyubov Yurievna was born in 1956. Russian opera singer, soprano. She graduated from the Moscow Conservatory and the Gnessin Institute. Professor, Ph. D. She made her debut as Tatyana Larina in "Eugene Onegin" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. She performed leading roles in Pagliacci, Iolanthe, La Boheme and many other operas. She was a soloist of the Mariinsky Theater from 1986 to 1989

Netrebko Anna Yurievna - Russian opera singer, soprano. In 1993 she was invited to work by Valery Gergiev, chief conductor of the Mariinsky Theatre. In 2002, Anna Netrebko performed for the first time in New York on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Currently, Netrebko performs in performances of leading opera houses in Europe and the USA.

Mezzo-soprano

Elena Vasilievna Obraztsova was born in 1939. Mezzo-soprano voice, opera singer of the Russian Federation. People's Artist of the Soviet Union, vocal teacher. Laureate of the Lenin Prize in 1976. In 1990 she was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labor. A year earlier, during a tour of American cities, the singer made a splash by performing as Marina Mnishek in the opera "Boris Godunov", after which she became the star of the opera stage.

Arkhipova Irina Konstantinovna (1939-2010) - opera singer, mezzo-soprano voice, actress and teacher, People's ArtistSoviet Union, Hero of Socialist Labor, Laureate of the Lenin Prize. Irina Arkhipova gained world fame for her brilliant interpretation of the part of Carmen thanks to her gift of stage transformation. From 1956 to 1988 she was a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre.

Famous tenors of the first half of the 20th century

Ivan Kozlovsky (1900-1993) - opera singer with a lyric tenor, director. Hero of Socialist Labor, People's Artist of the Soviet Union. Best performances: the Duke in the opera Rigoletto, the Indian guest in the opera Sadko, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, the holy fool in the opera Boris Godunov (this role is considered the best role of Ivan Semenovich).

Sergey Lemeshev (1902-1977) - Russian opera singer with a lyric tenor. Laureate of the Stalin Prize, People's Artist of the Soviet Union, director and teacher. Since 1931 he has been a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre. He performed the aria of Count Almaviva in the opera The Barber of Seville, the duke in Rigoletto, the astrologer in The Golden Cockerel, and the Indian guest in Sadko. In 1951 Sergei Lemeshev directed the opera La Traviata at the Leningrad Opera Theatre. Then, in 1957, Lemeshev became the director of Massenet's opera Werther and played the main role in it.

Siberian nugget

Hvorostovsky Dmitry Alexandrovich - opera singer, baritone. Born in 1962 in Krasnoyarsk. He is the People's Artist of Russia. Participates in numerousmusical projects around the world, including the opera "Don Juan", staged in Geneva, and the play "Love Potion" by Donizetti - at the Metropolitan Opera.

Dmitry Hvorostovsky does not stop at what has been achieved in the field of opera, he actively collaborates with composers who write modern music, w altzes, patriotic songs, lyrical works. The singer has a cycle of songs of the war years, which were created at different times. Among them are "The grove under the mountain was smoking" (composer V. Basner, lyrics by M. Matusovsky), "Oh, roads!" (music by A. Novikov, lyrics by L. Oshanin), "Dark Night" (music by N. Bogoslovsky, lyrics by V. Agatov), "Russian Field" (music by J. Frenkel, lyrics by I. Goff) and many others.

Vocal art today

Famous Russian opera singers are welcome guests at art festivals. Over the long history of opera in the Russian state, several generations of talented performers have already changed. The current generation continues to delight the public. Opera is still in demand all over the world.