Tiit Kuusik

Tiit Kuusik (born Dietrich Kuusik; 24 September 1911 – 15 August 1990) was an Estonian opera singer (baritone).

Kuusik was born in Pärnu. He studied at Pärnu Boys' Gymnasium, played violin, cello and percussion in the school's dance orchestra and sang in the school's boys' choir, first as a tenor, later as a bass (taught by Heinrich Meri). Before entering the conservatory, he also performed light music in the same orchestra. After graduating from gymnasium, he took singing lessons from Elene Rebas.

In 1938 he graduated from the Tallinn Conservatory. 1938–1939 he was a soloist at the Vienna Volksoper, 1942–1943 at the Staatstheater Kassel, and 1944–1988 at the Estonia Theatre.

Several films have been made about him, including Laulab Tiit Kuusik (1973, Tallinnfilm).

Kuusik died in 1990 in Tallinn.

Awards and honors Honored Artist of the Estonian SSR (1945) Two Stalin Prizes (1950, 1952) People's Artist of the Estonian SSR (1952) People's Artist of the USSR (1954) Order of Lenin (1956) Order of the Badge of Honour (1965) Order of the Red Banner of Labour (1971) Order of Friendship of Peoples (1981) Order of the October Revolution (1986)

Opera roles

Silvio (Leoncavallo's "Pajatsid", 1938 in Estonia Theatre) Escarnillo (Bizet's "Carmen", 1938) Tonio (Leoncavallo's "Pajatsid" 1939, 1942, 1946, 1948,1954 and 1978)