Elena Obraztsova

Elena Vasilyevna Obraztsova (; 7 July 1939 – 12 January 2015) was a Soviet and Russian mezzo-soprano. She was awarded the People's Artist of the USSR in 1976 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990.

Life As a child, Obraztsova lived in Leningrad through the severe long siege (more than 870 days) during World War II. In 1948, at the age of nine, she began singing in the children's chorus of the Pioneers Palace in Leningrad.

From 1954 to 1957, she studied in the Tchaikovsky musical college in Taganrog and frequently participated in concerts onstage of Taganrog Theatre. From 1957 to 1958, Obraztsova studied in Rostov-on-Don's music school. In August 1958, Obraztsova passed the examinations and became a student at the Leningrad Conservatory. In 1963 she was invited to perform in a Bolshoi Theatre production of Boris Godunov in Moscow. Her introduction to the opera houses of Europe and the world was a recital in the Salle Pleyel in Paris.

Opera career She played many roles throughout her career, including performances under the baton of such leading conductors as Claudio Abbado and Herbert von Karajan. In December 1977 she opened the 200th opera season in La Scala singing Don Carlos's Eboli with Abbado as conductor. She first performed in New York in 1976, in Aida, and was called a "major artist" in reviews.

Personal life She strongly supported the Soviet Union, and signed a letter in 1974 denouncing Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya for their support for Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. and to the IV Junior Delphic Games 2011 in Johannesburg/South Africa with their motto "Provoke, Innovate, Inspire".

She was married twice, first to Vyacheslav Makarov, a physicist, and later Algis Ziuraitis, who was a conductor at the Bolshoi.

Honours and awards

Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR (1st prize) (1962) 1970 - Viñas prize (1st prize, International Vocal Competition in Barcelona) Honored Artist of the RSFSR 1970 Tchaikovsky prize (1st prize) Order of the Red Banner of Labour, twice (1971, 1980) Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR - for concerts and theatrical activities 1971-1972 period (1973) People's Artist of the RSFSR (1973) Lenin Prize - for concert programs in 1973-1974 and the roles of Froska "(Simeon Kolko)", Carmen and Azucena "(Il Trovatore)" (1976) People's Artist of the USSR (1976) Hero of Socialist Labour (27 December 1990) - for outstanding contributions to the development of Soviet musical art Order of Lenin (27 December 1990) Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class (17 June 1999) - for outstanding contribution to the development of musical art Casta Diva prize (2002) Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class (10 June 2009) - for outstanding contribution to music and many years of fruitful creative activity Order of the Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow, 1st class (Russian Orthodox Church, 2009) - in consideration of his labours for the good of the Church and in connection with her 70th birthday

Repertory 1 Concert performance of the opera/operetta