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Elena Vasiliyevna Obraztsova (Template:Lang-ru) (b. in Leningrad, now St Petersburg Russia, on July 7, 1939) is a Russian mezzo-soprano.
As a child Obraztsova lived in Leningrad through the long siege (August 1941-January 1943) during World War II. In 1954-1957 Obraztsova studied in Taganrog's musical school named after Tchaikovsky and frequently participated in concerts onstage of Taganrog Theatre. In 1957-1958 Obraztsova studied in Rostov on Don's music school. In August 1958 Yelena Obraztsova passed the examinations and became a student at the Leningrad Conservatory. In 1963 she was invited to perform in a Bolshoi Theater production of Boris Gudonov in Moscow. Her introduction to the opera houses of Europe and the world was a recital in the Salle Pleyel in Paris.
She has played many roles throughout her career, including performances under the baton of such leading conductors as Claudio Abbado and Herbert von Karajan. In December 1977 she opened the 200th opera season in La Scala singing Don Carlo's Eboli with Abbado as conductor. In 1978 she played the title role of Carmen opposite Placido Domingo in Franco Zeferelli's television production of the opera. She also appeared as Santuzza in Zeferelli's film version of Cavalleria Rusticana in 1982.
On December 27, 1990 the mezzo soprano of the Yelena Obraztsova was awarded by the President of USSR for her contribution into development of the Soviet Music with the title of the Hero of Socialist Labor, Order of Lenin and golden medal Hammer and Sickle.
In June 2007 Obraztsova was appointed artistic director of opera at the Mikhaylovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. She also trains young soloists in her own cultural center in St. Petersburg. Obraztsova still appears regularly on stage at the Mikhailovsky in the role of the Countess in Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades.
On July 7, 2009, Obraztsova's 70th birthday was marked with a special program at the Mikhailovsky Theater that included ballet performances, opera arias, excerpts from films, and jazz and piano recitals.
Notes
- Template:Ru icon "Образцова Елена Васильевна". Международный Объединенный Биографический Центр.
- Larisa Doctorow, "Home-grown diva", The St. Petersburg Times, July 10, 2009.