Valeriy
Egudin (1937)
Born on August 29th
in the city of Kotovsk, Odessa region. Dramatic tenor. People's
Artist of the USSR
(1983).
First started to sing while
studying in a college in the city of Abakan,
where he took part in a students’ vocal group. This little amateur group became
famous in Abakan
and won several awards. Egudin also narrated and acted in drama stagings, and
even directed a play.
Egudin became a laureate of the Moscow 1957 Youth Festival
singing contest, performing the aria of Robert from “Iolanta”.
In 1958 he started to work in
the Novosibirsk Opera Theater as a small-role actor in mass scenes.
In 1960 he started to study in
Novosibirsk
conservatory. In the first year and a half of studies he had thought he was a
baritone, and only then started to further develop his tenor voice. The switch
was very difficult for the young singer.
Made his debut in the
Novosibirsk Opera Theater in 1961 in the role of the Preacher in the opera
"In the path of the Thunder" by M.Magidenko, while still on his
second year of studies in the conservatory. He was still not a full-pledged
soloist, but a member of an apprentice group of singers. After that he had
performed in secondary roles in “Boris Godunov” and “Tzar’s Bride”. His real
breakthrough came with the role of Oleg Bayan in “Bed-Bug” by Lazarev. After
this role the administrators of the Theater started seeing in him a candidate
for much more significant parts.
In 1965 graduated from Novosibirsk conservatory
(class of A.P.Zdanovich, L.Y.Hinchina).
He was planned to be sent
to study in Italy,
along with a few other very promising young Soviet singers, but in the last
moment the authorities backed up.
Egudin performed in the
Novosibirsk Opera Theater for 30 years, then serving 9 years as the Theater's
director. As a director revived the operas “Othello” and “Queen of Spades” on
the stage of the Theater. Under his guidance the Novosibirsk Opera Theater has
received many prestigious awards.
Among the 60 roles in his
repertoire were Herman, Rhadames, Jose, Manrico, Cavaradossi, De Grie, Canio,
Sadko, Duke, Steersman ("The Flying Dutch"), Carlos, Joinek, Pierre Bezuhoff.
He was also considered as one of the best Othello's in Russia. Othello
was also the role he performed in his last performance before his retirement.
Was a member of the
Communist party from 1982.
In 1976-1992 was the head
of the Vocal Department in Novosibirsk
conservatory (from 1984 - professor).
Gave master
classes in The National Academy of Musical and Scenic Arts in Brno,
Czech Republic and in the Heidelberg-Mannheim
High School of Music in Germany.
Died on
December 4th 2007 after a long illness.