Maxim Mikhailov
Encyclopedia
Maxim Dormidontovich Mikhailov Максим Дормидонтович Михайлов (Koltsovka, village of Kazan's province 25(13) August 1893 – Moscow
30 March 1971) was a Russian bass.His son, Igor Mikhailov (1920-1983) was the bass of the Bolshoi for several decades. His grandson Maxim Mikhailov (b.1962) is also a bass singer.
Mikhailov had no musical training beyond that as an archdeacon in the Russian Orthodox Church, but was a physical phenomenon with enormous depth and volume. He was directly recruited as a singer by the Soviet authorities, his beard shaved, and sent to study in preparation for the Bolshoi Theatre
. He became Joseph Stalin
's favorite singer and most famous interpreter of the role of Ivan Susanin
in the reworked "patriotic" Soviet version of the opera of that name, formerly and since better known as Mikhail Glinka
's A Life for the Tsar
. Mikhailov sang Susanin nearly 400 times from his first performance of the role in 1939 to his last stage appearance in 1957. He also was frequently invited by Stalin to sing and drink with him late at night in Moscow Kremlin.
In addition to Susanin, Mikhailov was a renowned interpreter of other bass and basso profundo roles in Russian opera: Pimen in Boris Godunov
, the miller in Dargomyzhsky
's Rusalka
, Khan Konchak in Prince Igor
, the Viking merchant in Sadko
, Gremin in Eugene Onegin
.
Mikhailov recorded many of his trademark arias under the conductors Nikolai Golovanov, Alexander Melik-Pashaev, Alexander Orlov
, and Samuil Samosud
. Among his recordings of songs, particularly well known with the pianists Nikolai Korolykov and Naum Walter are "O gentle autumn night" by Glinka, [Dargomyzhsky's "The Civil Servant", Viktor Kalinnikov
's "On the Old Burial Mound", "The Blacksmith" by Yuri S. Sakhnovsky
(1866–1930) and "The Seafarers" by Konstantin P. Vilboa
(1817–1882). Mikhailov also performed and recorded famous folk songs, such as "Song of the Volga Boatmen", in Rachmaninov's arrangement for solo singer and piano, and "The sun rises and the sun sets" and "Through the wild mysterious Taiga" with the Russian Folk Orchestra conducted by D. Ospioc.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
30 March 1971) was a Russian bass.His son, Igor Mikhailov (1920-1983) was the bass of the Bolshoi for several decades. His grandson Maxim Mikhailov (b.1962) is also a bass singer.
Mikhailov had no musical training beyond that as an archdeacon in the Russian Orthodox Church, but was a physical phenomenon with enormous depth and volume. He was directly recruited as a singer by the Soviet authorities, his beard shaved, and sent to study in preparation for the Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
. He became Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
's favorite singer and most famous interpreter of the role of Ivan Susanin
Ivan Susanin
Ivan Susanin was a Russian folk hero and martyr of the early 17th century's Time of Troubles.-Evidence:In 1619, a certain Bogdan Sobinin from Domnino village near Kostroma received from Tsar Mikhail one half of Derevischi village. According to the extant royal charter, these lands were granted...
in the reworked "patriotic" Soviet version of the opera of that name, formerly and since better known as Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka , was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music...
's A Life for the Tsar
A Life for the Tsar
A Life for the Tsar , as it is known in English, although its original name was Ivan Susanin is a "patriotic-heroic tragic opera" in four acts with an epilogue by Mikhail Glinka. The original Russian libretto, based on historical events, was written by Nestor Kukolnik, Georgy Fyodorovich Rozen,...
. Mikhailov sang Susanin nearly 400 times from his first performance of the role in 1939 to his last stage appearance in 1957. He also was frequently invited by Stalin to sing and drink with him late at night in Moscow Kremlin.
In addition to Susanin, Mikhailov was a renowned interpreter of other bass and basso profundo roles in Russian opera: Pimen in Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov (opera)
Boris Godunov is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky . The work was composed between 1868 and 1873 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is Mussorgsky's only completed opera and is considered his masterpiece. Its subjects are the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar during the Time of Troubles,...
, the miller in Dargomyzhsky
Alexander Dargomyzhsky
Alexander Sergeyevich Dargomyzhsky was a 19th century Russian composer. He bridged the gap in Russian opera composition between Mikhail Glinka and the later generation of The Five and Tchaikovsky....
's Rusalka
Rusalka (Dargomyzhsky)
Rusalka is an opera in four acts, six tableaux, by Alexander Dargomyzhsky, composed during 1848-1855. The Russian libretto was adapted by the composer from Pushkin's incomplete dramatic poem of the same name...
, Khan Konchak in Prince Igor
Prince Igor
Prince Igor is an opera in four acts with a prologue. It was composed by Alexander Borodin. The composer adapted the libretto from the East Slavic epic The Lay of Igor's Host, which recounts the campaign of Russian prince Igor Svyatoslavich against the invading Polovtsian tribes in 1185...
, the Viking merchant in Sadko
Sadko
Sadko is a Russian medieval epic . The title character is an adventurer, merchant and gusli musician from Novgorod.-Synopsis:Sadko played the gusli on the shores of a lake. The Sea Tsar enjoyed his music, and offered to help him...
, Gremin in Eugene Onegin
Eugene Onegin (opera)
Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, is an opera in 3 acts , by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto was written by Konstantin Shilovsky and the composer and his brother Modest, and is based on the novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin....
.
Mikhailov recorded many of his trademark arias under the conductors Nikolai Golovanov, Alexander Melik-Pashaev, Alexander Orlov
Aleksandr Orlov (conductor)
Aleksandr Ivanovich Orlov or Alexander Orlov was a Russian opera conductor, and People's Artist of the RSFSR . He was the first head of the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra of All-Union Radio .-Biography:Orlov studied violin at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, under P.A...
, and Samuil Samosud
Samuil Samosud
Samuil Abramovich Samosud |Georgia]], — Moscow, 6 November 1964) was a Russian conductor. He started his musical career on the cello, before conducting in the Mariinsky Theater, Petrograd in 1917. From 1918 to 1936 he conducted at the Maly Operny, Leningrad. In 1936 he became musical...
. Among his recordings of songs, particularly well known with the pianists Nikolai Korolykov and Naum Walter are "O gentle autumn night" by Glinka, [Dargomyzhsky's "The Civil Servant", Viktor Kalinnikov
Viktor Kalinnikov
Victor Sergeevich Kalinnikov was a Russian choral composer, conductor and pedagog.Victor Kalinnikov was the younger brother of the better known symphonic composer Vasily Kalinnikov...
's "On the Old Burial Mound", "The Blacksmith" by Yuri S. Sakhnovsky
Yuri Sakhnovsky
Yuri Sergeevich Sakhnovsky was a Russian composer, conductor and music critic.Sakhnovsky came from a well off family and was known as a "bon vivant handsome, brilliant and wealthy"....
(1866–1930) and "The Seafarers" by Konstantin P. Vilboa
Konstantin Vilboa
Konstantin Petrovich Vilboa was a Russian composer.The name Vilboa is of French origin . Vilboa was an autodidact who never received any musical education...
(1817–1882). Mikhailov also performed and recorded famous folk songs, such as "Song of the Volga Boatmen", in Rachmaninov's arrangement for solo singer and piano, and "The sun rises and the sun sets" and "Through the wild mysterious Taiga" with the Russian Folk Orchestra conducted by D. Ospioc.