The Russian tenor Ivan Semyonovich Kozlovzky was born at Marianovka near Poltava, Ukraine on March 24, 1900. He studied at Kiev, drama, piano and singing with N.V. Lissenko and Muravyova. He debuted at Poltava in 1920 as Faust then moved to the Kharkov opera in 1924.
He was a leading tenor at the Moscow Bolshoi from 1926 to 1954, then appeared occasionally until 1970 (role of the Innocent in Boris and farewell concert). In an unusually long career, he appeared still frequently in public 1972-76 and sings on July 4, 1985 for the Reizen's 90'th birthday at the Moscow Bolshoi. Kozlovsky gave many concerts in all Russia including Russian music of Schubert, Schumann, List. He taught at the Moscow conservatory 1956-1980. With his own company, 1938-41, he staged Werther, Orfeo (Gluck), and Katerina of Arkas, which he directed.
Singer mastering a rare technique he was famous as Lensky (Onegin), Berendey (Snegurochka - the Snow Maiden), Levko (May Night), Vladimir (Prince Igor), Nero by Rubinstein, Dubrovsky by Napravnik, The Indian Guest (Sadko) etc. He also encouraged contemporary works and was outstanding in the western repertoire: Faust(Gounod), Werther, Rigoletto , Barber of Seville, Lohengrin, Orfeo, Traviata, Boheme, etc. Kozlovsky was renowned for his high register and his rich palette of shadings. Ivan Kozlovsky died in Moscow on December 23, 1993.
|
Culture and Art 