Oda Slobodskaya superlative Tatiana's Letter Scene 2

Oda Slobodskaya as Tatiana in the Letter Scene conducted by Anatole Fistoulari.

Oda Slobodskaya was born in Vilno and trained with Natalia Iretskaya at the Conservatoire in St Petersburg. Iretskaya had been taught by Pauline Viardot, the sister of Maria Malibran and daughter of Manuel Garcia, the first tenor to sing the role of the Count in "The Barber of Seville".

Oda Slobodskaya became a Principal Soprano in the Marinsky Theatre, singing such roles as Lisa in "The Queen of Spades" and Tatiana, for which she was justly celebrated.

Having been introduced to the west by Sergei Diaghilev,, the great Russian Bass Fyodor Chaliapin formed his own Opera Company to tour western Europe. He selected talented singers who were not yet famous to perform the major roles and chose the young Slobodskaya to sing Elisabetta in Don Carlos. The Company visited Paris, and London where Slobodskaya eventually settled, singing and teaching there for the rest of her life.

She enjoyed international operatic success as a dramatic soprano, singing roles such as Aida and Venus in Tannhauser at Covent Garden and La Scala, Milan, as well as in the opera houses of South America. Justly renowned in traditional Russian roles, Slobodskaya also sang modern works including Shostakovich's "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" and Delius's "Koanga".

She was pioneering as a recitalist of Russian song, including the songs of Medtner and Prokofiev and was the first soprano to perform Britten's "Les Illuminations". She continued to sing and teach until the last few months of her life and her recitals were treasured for the vivacity of her singing and the penetrating insight of her interpretations.

She was also famous as a brilliantly witty and musical narrator in "Peter and the Wolf"

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Oda
• Slobodskaya
• Eugene
• Onegin
• Tatiana's
• Letter
• Scene
• Russian
• Opera
• Song
• Chaliapin
• Pushkin
• Tchaikovsky

[CharlotteinWeimar]

theblacksister (4 months ago) - * * * * *

I thought Vishnevskaya was great, but this is pure poetry to my ears. I am a native Russian speaker and have read the book - this is beyond description! Thank you for keeping this beautiful piece of art alive!!

[unpodimusica1]

Such a beautiful, velvety, expressive voice! So grateful to you for sharing this.

[Liszt1886]

Merveilleuse interprétation! Tous mes remerciements, Charlotte!!!

[littlebrabbel]

russian soul- SHE knew how to sing that

[paulostroff99]

CharlotteinWeimar-I totally agree. This is one of the finest performed arias of any kind and in any language-ever. IMHO Vishnevskaya did not compare to Oda,and only the Russian born Rita Streich is in her class.

[paulostroff99]

This IMHO is the finest performance of this masterpiece ever recorded! Bravo!

[paulostroff99]

IMHO-No better version ever recorded. Brava! TY