Stepanova, Elena Andreevna

She was born May 5 (17), 1891 (according to other sources - in 1892 ^[1] ) in Moscow, in the family of a choral singing teacher (her father was her first teacher).

From 6 to 14 years old she sang in church choirs, from 1902 she studied at the primary city school, then in trading classes. In 1908-1910 she studied the art of singing at the Moscow National Conservatory (class of Y. Losiev), then took private lessons in singing from M. Polly for two years.

In 1908-1912 she sang in the choir of the Bolshoi Theater , in 1912-1924 and 1927-1944 - the soloist of this theater. In 1912 , she first performed in the solo part of Antonida in the opera " Life for the Tsar " by M. I. Glinka . In 1919-1921 she participated in the work of the Bolshoi Theater Opera Studio (since 1926 - the KS Stanislavsky Moscow Opera Theater, now the K.S. Stanislavsky and Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Musical Theater ). K. Stanislavsky had a great influence on the singer’s work, in the opera studio of which she performed the parts of Gilda ( Rigoletto by J. Verdi , 1919 ) and Tatyana ( Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky , 1921 ).

In 1924-1926 she performed at the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater (now the Mariinsky Theater ), in 1926-1927 - at the Moscow Opera Theater. K. S. Stanislavsky.

I sang about 30 parts. The singing was distinguished by its crystal clear sounding, brilliant coloratura technique and deep artistry.

She performed solo parts in major vocal and symphonic works - the poem “Bells” by S. V. Rachmaninov (first performance in Moscow, under the direction of the author, 1914), in the finale of the 9th symphony by L. Beethoven (under the direction of O. Klemperer , 1925, Great Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic ) and songs by Klerchen from the music of L. Beethoven to the tragedy of I. Goethe “ Egmont ”.

She collaborated with conductors V. Suk and N. S. Golovanov , singers F. I. Chaliapin , L. V. Sobinov and A. V. Nezhdanova .

Left the scene in 1944. Until 1950, she performed in concerts as a chamber singer, performing songs and romances of Russian and foreign authors.

The chamber repertoire also included works by Western European, Russian and Soviet composers, but most of all the singer’s creative personality was close to the romances of P.I. Tchaikovsky , S.V. Rachmaninov and E. Grieg . One of the first performers of vocal works by N. Ya. Myaskovsky , R. M. Gliere , S. N. Vasilenko (the composer dedicated the Mayor songs to the singer; the first performer of his romances “In May”, “I took a little from you ”,“ Gyaur ”,“ Dance ”, 1931, Kiev , under the direction of the author), D.I. Arakishvili , N.K. Chamberberry , O. S. Chishko , A. I. Khachaturian , Z. A. Levina , An . N. Alexandrova , N.P. Budashkina . In 1935, as part of a team of artists of the Bolshoi Theater, she performed in Sevastopol in front of the sailors of the Black Sea Fleet .

From 1914 to 1950 she toured in many cities of Russia, later the USSR.

Repeatedly recorded on phonograph records in Moscow (Metropol, 1912; Muztrest, 1929-1932; Gramplasttrest, 1934-1937).

Leaving the opera scene after a car accident, helped participants in amateur performances, was one of the organizers of the Moscow City Singing School. She conducted social work (since 1934 she was elected as a deputy of the Moscow Soviet ).

Elena Andreevna Stepanova died on May 26, 1978 in Moscow. She was buried at the Vagankovsky cemetery .

• Honored Artist of the RSFSR ( 1933 )
• People's Artist of the RSFSR (1934) ^[2]
• People's Artist of the USSR (1937)
• Three Orders of the Red Banner of Labor (1937, 1951, 1976)
• Medals.

• " The Tale of Tsar Saltan " N.A. Rimsky-Korsakova - The Swan Princess (1913, first performer)
• “Son of the Sun” S. N. Vasilenko - Miss Aurora (1929, first performer)
• “The Snow Maiden” by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov - The Snow Maiden
• " Sadko " N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov- Volkhov
• "The Golden Cockerel" by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov - Queen of Shemakhan
• The Tsar’s Bride by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov - Martha
• “The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia ” by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov - Sirin
• " Kashchei the Immortal " by N. A. Rimsky - Tsarevna
• May Night by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov - Pannochka
• "Ivan Susanin" M.I. Glinka - Antonida
• " Ruslan and Lyudmila " M. I. Glinka - Lyudmila
• " Abduction from the Seraglio " by V. A. Mozart - Constance (1925)
• The Barber of Seville by J. Rossini - Rosina
• Rigoletto by J. Verdi - Gilda
• La Traviata by J. Verdi - Violetta (1933)
• The Huguenots by J. Meyerbeer - Margarita Valois
• "Carmen" by J. Bizet - Michaela
• " Lakme " L. Deliba - Lakme
• R. Wagner's “Lohengrin” - Elsa
• "Eugene Onegin" by P. I. Tchaikovsky - Tatyana
• " Enemy Strength " by A. N. Serov - Stepanida
• “ The Wedding of Figaro ” by V. A. Mozart - Marcelin
• The Huguenots by J. Meyerbeer - Urban
• " Valkyrie " by R. Wagner - Helmwig

• Elena A. Stepanova / A. Anisimov. - 1st. - Moscow: Art, 1953. - 15 p. - (Bolshoi, USSR). - 10,000 copies.
• Biography Stepanova
• Grave of Elena Stepanova