Rimma Volkova Russian opera singer, lyric-coloratura soprano Date of Birth: 09.08.1940 Country: Turkmenistan

1. Biography of Rimma Volkova
2. Early Life and Education
3. Opera Career
4. Repertoire and Artistic Style
5. Chamber Music
6. Legacy

Biography of Rimma Volkova

Rimma Volkova is a Russian opera singer, known for her lyrical coloratura soprano voice. She was honored as a People's Artist of Russia in 1995 and was a leading soloist at the Kirov Theater from 1967 to 1993.

Early Life and Education

Rimma Volkova was born and raised in Ulyanovsk, Russia. In her youth, she enrolled in a music school for conducting and choral studies since there was no vocal department available. However, after a year, she transferred to the Stavropol Music School, where she successfully completed vocal and conducting degrees. She then continued her studies at the Kazan Conservatory under the guidance of E. A. Abrosimova. During her fourth year, she became a laureate of the International Singing Competition in Rio de Janeiro.

Opera Career

Following her competition success, Rimma Volkova was invited to join the Kirov Theater troupe. In her first year, she performed six roles, including Marfa in Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "The Tsar's Bride" and Antonida in Mikhail Glinka's "Ivan Susanin." Throughout her career, she collaborated with renowned musicians such as Sergei Yeltsin, Konstantin Simeonov, Valery Gergiev, Boris Sokolov, Evgeny Nesterenko, Galina Kovaleva, Niksha Bareza, and Boris Khaykin. She also embarked on numerous international tours, performing in countries such as Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Czechoslovakia, France, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Mongolia, and the former Soviet republics.

Repertoire and Artistic Style

Over her 26-year career at the Mariinsky Theater, Rimma Volkova portrayed almost all the lyrical coloratura soprano roles in the theater's repertoire. She also had an extensive chamber music repertoire. Known as a "master of nuances," she displayed a remarkable ability to delicately and sensitively portray various characters and emotions. Rimma Volkova's artistic individuality was particularly well-suited to the Russian opera repertoire, where she excelled in roles such as Marfa in "The Tsar's Bride," Princess-Swan in "The Tale of Tsar Saltan," Volkhova in "Sadko," and Ludmila in "Ruslan and Ludmila." In these roles, she beautifully expressed the theme of love. She also showcased her talent in Western repertoire, with memorable performances as Rosina in Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and Norina in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale." In more dramatic roles like Lucia di Lammermoor in Gaetano Donizetti's opera of the same name, Gilda in "Rigoletto," and Violetta in Verdi's "La Traviata," Rimma Volkova emphasized strong, profound, and selfless emotions, ready to sacrifice her life for love.

Chamber Music

Rimma Volkova's work in chamber music was significant and highly regarded. For many years, she primarily focused on Russian and German chamber music, driven by the emotional depth of these compositions. However, starting in 1985, she embarked on a new phase in her career, discovering and reintroducing Russian chamber music from the mid-18th to the early 19th centuries. This included music from the imperial court and noble estates, breathing new life into the works of composers such as Pashkevich, Sokolovsky, and Bortniansky. Rimma Volkova also unearthed lesser-known compositions by Countess T. K. Tolstaya, Prince N. B. Yusupov, the Sheremetev family, Princess E. Kochubey, and other masters of vocal chamber music. She played a crucial role in reviving the repertoire of renowned singer Anastasia Vyaltseva.

Legacy

Rimma Volkova's contributions to the world of opera and chamber music spanned several decades. Her sensitivity, versatility, and ability to capture the nuances of each character made her a revered artist. She left a lasting impact on the Russian opera repertoire and helped revive forgotten chamber music compositions, ensuring their continued recognition and appreciation.