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Nikolai Figner (Tenor) (Nikiforovka, near Kazan 1857 - Kiev, Ukraine 1918)
He joined the Russian Navy as a midshipman, and rose to the rank of lieutenant, retiring in 1881 to study voice with Vassily Samus, I. P. Pryanishnikova and Camille Everardi at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. According to Antonio Cotogni Figner travelled to Italy, where he studied with E. De Roxas and F. Lamperti. He made his debut (1882) in Gounod's ''Filemone e Bauci'' in Napoli. In 1884 and 1886 he gained some stage experience in South America with Claudio Rossi's company. On 4 November 1886, in Turin, he sang the principal tenor role in the world premiere of the revised version of Alfredo Catalani's ''Edmea''; this was also the occasion of Arturo Toscanini's first appearance as a conductor in Italy after his initial triumph in South America. He made many successful appearances throughout Europe with his future wife, Medea Mei, before returning to St. Petersburg and the Imperial Opera, where both had enviable careers. They divorced in 1904. From 1882 to 1887 he has appeared at 46 theatres in 38 operas and became one of the famous European singers. He was the lead tenor at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg from 1887 to 1907. Here he performed at the premieres of Tchaikovsky's operas ''The Queen of Spades'' and ''Iolanta'', in the roles of Herman and Vaudemont respectively. In both cases Tchaikovsky wrote additional numbers at the tenor's request. From 1910 to 1915 he directed and sang at the opera theatre called National House. He lost most of his possessions during the Russian Revolution and died shortly thereafter. Tchaikovsky dedicated to Nikolai Figner Six Romances, Op. 73 (1893). He was also a friend of Giuseppe Verdi, who has appreciated him as Otello in his opera. Verdi was a frequent visitor of Figner's villa In Italy.
I remember an evening (Cui) G&T 22601 1532B
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