Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Jan 9, 2014

Maria Kurenko (Soprano) (Tomsk 1890 - New York 1980)




Her real surname was Kurenkova. She studied singing at the Moscow Conservatory under the famous vocal pedagogue Umberto Masetti. In 1914 she made her debut at the Kharkov Opera House as Antonida in ‘’The life for the Tsar’’. Later she sang at the S. Zimin’s Opera House in Moscow. From 1918 to 1922 she was a soloist of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre, from 1922 to 1923 she performed at the National Opera of Ukraine, Kiev. She made guest appearances in Nijni Novgorod (1917), Saratov (1923), Latvian National Opera (1924-1926). Since 1926 she performed in Latvia, Poland, Czechia, Germany and France. Since 1926 she lived in France. The same year she appeared at the opera houses of USA (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston). Kurenko also sang in Prague, Finland and Scotland.

Chronology of some appearances

1914 Kharkov Opera House
1918-1922 Moscow Bolshoi Theatre
1922-1923 Kiev National Opera of Ukraine


RECORDINGS FOR SALE








Artistotipia, Kiev 1914/1915
Traviata (Verdi): Parigi, o cara with Slovtsov  602
Faust (Gounod): Laisse-moi, laisse-moi contempler with Petr Slovstov 603


Columbia, New York 1926-04-14
Manon (Massenet): Voyons, Manon, plus de chimиre 7110-M 98257

Columbia, New York 1926-04-15
Vкpres Siciliennes (Verdi): Merce, dilette amiche 7127-M 98257

Columbia, New York 1926-04-28
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini): Una voce poco fa 7127-M 98254

Columbia, New York 1926-05-07
Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of India 7020-M 142110

Columbia, New York 1926-05-21
Mireille (Gounod): O legere hirondelle 2048-M 142144

Columbia, New York 1927-05-18
Traviata (Verdi): Addio del passato 2062-M 144173

Columbia, New York 1928-03-17
Boheme (Puccini): Mi chiamano Mimi 50082-D 98495

Columbia, New York 1928-05-11
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Un bel di vedremo 50082-D 98506




















2 comments:

  1. Wonderful photos ! Thank you for posting !

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  2. I studied with Madame Maria Kurenko, a giant of a woman in her artistry, musical knowledge, and layers of brilliant intellect. She sang into her eightys and retained an impeccable coloratura till she became ill in her late eightys. Her rapid and beautifully focused coloratura was dazzling. Everything she did was infused with exquisite detail. I have records of her recordings of Stravinsky Songs, Chopin Songs, Songs by Prokofieff with Moussorgsky's "Nursery". I also have her albums of Rachmaninoff Songs, a must in the library of every lover of opera and lieder repertoire. For informtion please contact Diana at intlconcerts@gmail.com

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