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Elana KatulskaiaRussian singer (lyric-coloratura soprano).
Date of Birth: 21.05.1888
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
- Biography of Elena Katulskaya
- Early Career
- International Performances and Teaching
- Legacy and Repertoire
- Death
Biography of Elena Katulskaya
Elena Klimentyevna Katulskaya (1888-1966) was a Russian singer, known for her lyric-coloratura soprano voice. She was born on May 21 (June 2), 1888 in Odessa. Katulskaya studied at the music courses of Legler, initially focusing on piano and later on vocal under the guidance of I. Suprunenko. In 1905, she moved to St. Petersburg where she continued her vocal training with I.P. Pryanishnikov. From 1907 to 1909, Katulskaya studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the class of N.A. Iretskaya.
Early Career
Katulskaya made her debut in the role of Lakmé in Léo Delibes' opera at the Mariinsky Theatre in 1909. She was invited to perform by the director of the Imperial Theatres, V.A. Telyakovskiy, and remained a member of the Mariinsky Theatre until 1913. In 1911, she made her first appearance at the Bolshoi Theatre and became a soloist there from 1913 to 1946. Afterward, she served as the senior vocal consultant of the theatre until 1951. Additionally, Katulskaya performed as a chamber singer until 1958 and participated in concerts conducted by S.A. Kusevitsky and S.N. Vasilenko's "Historical Concerts".
International Performances and Teaching
From 1911, Katulskaya went on tours across Russia and Bessarabia with V.R. Petrov. She also performed in the cities of the Transcaucasian region, the Far East, Mongolia, and Poland. In the Soviet era, she taught at the Moscow Conservatory from 1948 to 1966, holding the position of professor from 1950. Among her students were A.D. Maslennikov, T.A. Milashkina, and N. Dobriyanova (Bulgaria), as well as the renowned Chinese singer Go Shushen. In 1950, Katulskaya was awarded the Stalin Prize and in 1965, she received the title of "People's Artist of the USSR".
Legacy and Repertoire
Elena Katulskaya's repertoire included over 45 roles, with her performances in "Snegurochka" (The Snow Maiden) and "Tsarskaya Nevesta" (The Tsar's Bride) by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov being particularly celebrated. She had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed artists like G.S. Pirogov, L.V. Sobinov, I.V. Tartakov, and F.I. Shalyapin. In addition to her vocal career, Katulskaya authored numerous articles on vocal art and memoirs of her contemporary singers.
