Dmitri Hvorostovsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Дмитрий Хворостовский |
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Dmitry Hvorostovsky singing an aria from The Queen of Spades during the reopening gala of the Bolshoi Theatre, 28 October 2011
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| Born |
Dmitri Aleksandrovich Hvorostovsky
16 October 1962 Krasnoyarsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
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| Died | 22 November 2017 (aged 55) London, United Kingdom
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| Occupation | Opera singer (baritone) |
| Title | People's Artist of Russia (1995) |
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Dmitri Aleksandrovich Hvorostovsky was a very famous Russian opera singer. He was known for his deep, rich voice, called a baritone voice. He was born on October 16, 1962, and passed away on November 22, 2017.
Contents
Dmitri Hvorostovsky: A Famous Opera Singer
Dmitri Hvorostovsky was one of the most celebrated opera singers of his time. He was admired around the world for his powerful voice and his amazing stage presence. He performed in many of the greatest opera houses.
His Early Life and Education
Dmitri Hvorostovsky was born in Krasnoyarsk, a city in Siberia, Russia. When he was young, this city was not open to many visitors from other countries. His father was an engineer and his mother was a gynecologist. Both of his parents had very busy jobs. They were often only home on weekends and holidays.
Becoming a Star: His Career Begins
Dmitri became famous around the world in 1989. This happened when he won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. He beat another talented singer, Bryn Terfel, in the final round. During the competition, he sang famous pieces like "Ombra mai fu" by Handel. He also sang "Per me giunto...O Carlo ascolta" from Verdi's opera Don Carlos.
His first opera performance outside of Russia was in 1989. He sang in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades at the Nice Opera in France. He then performed in Italy at La Fenice. There, he played the main character in Eugene Onegin, which made his reputation even stronger. In 1993, he made his American debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago in La traviata. He also performed at the Royal Opera House in London in 1992.
Performing Around the World
After these early successes, Hvorostovsky sang at almost every major opera house. These included the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Berlin State Opera, La Scala in Milan, and the Vienna State Opera. He was especially well-known for his role as the main character in Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin. The New York Times newspaper even said he was "born to play the role."
In 2002, Dmitri helped raise money for the Russian Children's Welfare Society. He was an honorary director for this charity. He also performed a special concert in 2003 called Where Are You My Brothers?. This concert featured new versions of songs from the World War II era. Over 90 million people watched it on Russian Television. He performed the same show for survivors of the Siege of Leningrad in 2004.
In his later years, Dmitri mostly focused on Verdi operas. Some of these included Un ballo in maschera, La traviata, and Simon Boccanegra. In 2009, he appeared in Il trovatore at the Metropolitan Opera.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Dmitri Hvorostovsky received many important awards in Russia. He won the Glinka State Prize in 1991. In 1995, he was given the honorary title of People's Artist of Russia. In 2011, he also received an Opera News award in New York City for his outstanding achievements in opera.
His Family Life
In 1989, Dmitri married a ballerina named Svetlana. He adopted her daughter, Maria, and they had two more children, Daniel and Alexandra. They later separated in 1999. His second wife was a Swiss singer named Florence Illi. They had two children together, Nina and Maxim.
Health Challenges and Final Performances
In June 2015, Dmitri announced that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had to cancel some of his performances to receive treatment in London. Despite his illness, he bravely returned to the stage at the Metropolitan Opera in September. He performed as Count di Luna in Il trovatore and received great praise from critics and audiences.
His Passing
Dmitri Hvorostovsky passed away on November 22, 2017, in London. He died from brain cancer.
Recordings of His Work
Dmitri Hvorostovsky made many recordings throughout his career. These recordings allow people to continue enjoying his incredible voice. He recorded many complete operas and also albums of light classical and traditional songs.
- I Met You, My Love (2002)
- Where Are You My Brothers? (2003)
- Passione di Napoli (2001)
Images for kids
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Dmitry Hvorostovsky singing an aria from The Queen of Spades during the reopening gala of the Bolshoi Theatre, 28 October 2011
See also
In Spanish: Dmitri Hvorostovsky para niños
