Isidor
Bolotin (1907)
Lyric-dramatic tenor. Was
the first one to be awarded the title of People's Artist of the Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (1944).
Was born to a Jewish
family, and his original name was Israel Bolotniy.
Still as a child decided to
become a musician. Became addicted to opera at a very young age and would many
times spend the little money he had just to buy a ticket to an opera staging.
As a young man worked at a
wood processing plant and sang at an amateur troupe headed by Evgeniy
Kikotskiy, who later became a famous composer, and who supported and encouraged
the young singer to further develop his skills.
In 1927 Bolotin went from his home
town of Bobruysk to study in Minsk Musical
College. His talent was
then noticed by the famous Russian tenor Anton Bonanich, a former colleague of
Chaliapin.
Bolotin was a member of the pioneer
group of singers that were the founders of the Belorussian national opera. From
1933 - soloist of the Belorussian Opera Theater.
During his 30 year career
he performed in 60 leading roles, among which were: Faust, Werther,
Cavaradossi, Werther, Lensky, Dubrovsky, Vodemon.
It was many times noted
that one of the biggest merits of his singing was its enormous emotional power.
Almost all of his family
members were killed by Nazis in World War II in the town of Bobruysk. It was a great blow for him and he
subsequently suffered two heart attacks.
Performed in Moscow, St-Petersburg and
other cities with great success.
Bolotin was also a member
of the Belorussian
Soviet Socialistic
Republic parliament and a
prominent public figure.