Georgy Vinogradov was born in Kazan, Russia in 1908. He first studied the violin and viola at the School of Music there, and later was a student at the Military Academy of Communications. In 1937 he studied at the Tatar Opera Studio in Kazan, and then completed his studies at the Moscow Conservatory and was engaged as a soloist with the Soviet National Radio. In 1943 Vinogradov became a soloist with the Soviet Army Song and Dance Ensemble, and as such sang at the front during World War II. He continued as soloist with this group until 1951, when he became permanent solist with Moscow Radio, and also embarked on very successful concert tours.
Although he appears never to have performed on the stage, he did participate in many radio performances of opera, among them Manon, Don Giovanni, Mignon and a number of Russian operas.
Although Soviet sources claim his career continued until 1963, Mikhail Alexandrovitch, who knew him well, tells another story. According to Alexandrovitch, Vinogradov got into a drunken brawl with some Polish officials shortly after the war and so embarrassed the government that his career was effectively ended. This is borne out by the fact that a number of Soviet musical references published during the Fifties and Sixties don't mention him at all, although he was one of the most famous singers in Russia. In any case, there is little doubt that Vinogradov was one of the finest tenors in Russia in his time.
He died in Moscow in 1980.
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