Solomon Khromchenko
Encyclopedia
Solomon Markovich Khromchenko (December 4, 1907, town of Zlatopol
, Russian Empire
, now Novomyrhorod
, Kirovohrad
district, Ukraine
– January 20, 2002, Moscow, Russia) – Russian and Jewish singer, tenor
.
His vocal gift was first recognized as he was a boy in the choir
of a local synagogue
.Later, he was a chorister of the "Yevokans" choir ("Jewish Vocal Ensemble"). He studied at the Kiev Conservatory
(1929–1931) under Mikhail Engel-Kron, and at the Moscow Conservatory
(1932–1935), under Xenia Dorliak (the mother-in law of Sviatoslav Richter
). In 1933 he was among the winners of the First AlI-Union Musical Competition in vocal category in the former USSR (Emil Gilels
won in the piano category). Khromchenko was among the leading tenors of the Bolshoi Theatre
.
During the World War II Khromchenko gave over a thousand concerts for Soviet troops. He was included into the selected group of Soviet performers to participate in the Kremlin
concert of Victory Celebration in May 1945. In the Bolshoi
he performed over twenty roles of the lyric tenor repertoire: Lensky (Eugene Onegin
), the Indian Guest (Sadko
), Bayan (Ruslan and Lyudmila
), Vladimir (Prince Igor
), Sinodal (Demon
), Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto
), Count Almaviva (Barber of Seville), Faust (Faust
) etc. He was teaching at the Gnessin Institute since 1961; in 1992-2000 he was professor at Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel
. He authored a handbook on vocal coaching.
Zlatopol
Zlatopol is a small city in Ukraine, located about 80 km northwest to Kirovohrad, near Kiev.- History :Before the Holocaust, Zlatopol was a prosperous very rich Jewish Shtetl. There was also a gymnasium for rich people in Zlatopol...
, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, now Novomyrhorod
Novomyrhorod
Novomyrhorod is a city in the Kirovohrad Oblast of central Ukraine, in the southern part of the Middle Dnieper area. It is the administrative center of the Novomyrhorodskyi Raion.Novomyrhorod is situated on the banks of the River Velyka Vys...
, Kirovohrad
Kirovohrad
Kirovohrad , formerly Yelisavetgrad, is a city in central Ukraine. It is located on the Inhul River. It is a motorway junction. Pop. 239,400 ....
district, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
– January 20, 2002, Moscow, Russia) – Russian and Jewish singer, tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
.
His vocal gift was first recognized as he was a boy in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
of a local synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
.Later, he was a chorister of the "Yevokans" choir ("Jewish Vocal Ensemble"). He studied at the Kiev Conservatory
Kiev Conservatory
The Tchaikovsky National Academy of Music is a Ukrainian state institution of higher music education. Its courses include postgraduate education.-History:...
(1929–1931) under Mikhail Engel-Kron, and at the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
(1932–1935), under Xenia Dorliak (the mother-in law of Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Richter
Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter was a Soviet pianist well known for the depth of his interpretations, virtuoso technique, and vast repertoire. He is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.-Childhood:...
). In 1933 he was among the winners of the First AlI-Union Musical Competition in vocal category in the former USSR (Emil Gilels
Emil Gilels
Emil Grigoryevich Gilels was a Soviet pianist, widely considered one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.His last name is sometimes transliterated Hilels.-Biography:...
won in the piano category). Khromchenko was among the leading tenors of 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...
.
During the World War II Khromchenko gave over a thousand concerts for Soviet troops. He was included into the selected group of Soviet performers to participate in the Kremlin
Kremlin
A kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
concert of Victory Celebration in May 1945. In the Bolshoi
Bolshoi
Bolshoi may refer to:*Bolshoi Theatre, a major ballet and opera theatre in Moscow, Russia**Bolshoi Ballet, resident ballet company at the Bolshoi Theatre**Moscow State Academy of Choreography, commonly known as The Bolshoi Ballet Academy...
he performed over twenty roles of the lyric tenor repertoire: Lensky (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....
), the Indian Guest (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...
), Bayan (Ruslan and Lyudmila
Ruslan and Lyudmila
Ruslan and Lyudmila is an opera in five acts composed by Mikhail Glinka between 1837 and 1842. The opera is based on the 1820 poem of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. The Russian libretto was written by Valerian Shirkov, Nestor Kukolnik and N. A. Markevich, among others...
), Vladimir (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...
), Sinodal (Demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
), Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
), Count Almaviva (Barber of Seville), Faust (Faust
Faust (opera)
Faust is a drame lyrique in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part 1...
) etc. He was teaching at the Gnessin Institute since 1961; in 1992-2000 he was professor at Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He authored a handbook on vocal coaching.