Arnold Azrikan


Arnold Grigorevich Azrikan was a Ukrainian and Russian operatic dramatic tenor.

Biography and career

He began to sing at the age of twelve in a chorus of the city church in Odessa. Between 1926-1929, he studied at the Odessa Conservatory where he was coached by the singers Menner-Kanevskaya and Julia Reider. Later, in Kharkov, he had further studies the Italian tenor and voice teacher with Carlo Barrero. He began first as a chorister at the Odessa Opera theater in 1926, and in 1928 he made his debut there as Nathanael in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann.
In 1930, he was invited to the opera theater in Kharkov where he sang in the Ukrainian, Russian and Italian repertoires. In 1934 both the capital and the opera theatre's leading soloists, including Azrikan, moved to Kiev.
In 1939, Azrikan first sang the title role in Giuseppe Verdi's Otello which later became his signature role. He was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine in 1940, and along with his friendly rival Yuri Kiporenko-Domansky, Azrikan was the leading tenor at the Kiev Opera and Ballet Theatre until 1943. The same year he joined the Yekaterinburg Opera Theatre where he achieved his greatest recognition as a dramatic tenor in Otello. For this performance he was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1946. He remained with this theatre until 1951. Later, he toured extensively all over the Soviet Union while having long time engagements with the Odessa Opera and Ballet theater and the Baku Opera and Ballet Theatre. He retired from stage in 1964 during his engagement with the Moldova Opera Theater but returned to the same theater for his farewell performance in Otello in 1968.
Azrikan was also the stage director of several opera productions in which he also sang the leading roles. After his retirement from stage, he taught singing at the Chişinău Conservatory.

Repertoire

Two Ukrainian romances - Arnold Azrikan - Gramplast, No.5230/5232, 1937.

Awards