Fyodor Stravinsky
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fyodor Ignatievich Stravinsky (Russian: Фёдор Игнатиевич Стравинский), 20 June [O.S. 8 June] 1843 - 4 December [O.S. 21 November] 1902) was a Russian-Ukrainian bass opera singer and actor. He was the father of Igor Stravinsky and the grandfather of Soulima Stravinsky.
In 1869 he completed his educatation at the Nizhyn Lyceum where he sang in the church choir. He studied voice at the St. Petersburg Conservatory from 1869-73.
Stravinsky started his solo singing career in Kiev (1873-76) before moving to St Petersburg, where he sang at the Mariinsky Theatre for 26 years, from 1876 to 1902. He was hailed as the successor to Osip Petrov and was renowned for his outstanding dramatic talent as an actor. Considered the leading bass at the Imperial Opera, he was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery in St Petersburg. His memoirs are invaluable. Stravinsky also had a unique library which was very popular amongst bibliophiles.
Stravinsky created a number of roles in Tchaikovsky's operas:
- His Royal Highness in Vakula the Smith in 1876
- Dunois in The Maid of Orleans in 1881
- Mamirov in The Enchantress in 1887.
He also created the role of Moroz (King Frost) in Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Snowmaiden.
Stravinsky was also known as an active advocate of Mykola Lysenko's music, often performing the role of Mykola in the opera Natalka Poltavka.
[edit] Sources
- Lysenko, I. A Dictionary of Ukrainian singers. Kiev, 1997
