Stravinsky, Feodor (Ignatievich)
Stravinsky, Feodor (Ignatievich)
Stravinsky, Feodor (Ignatievich), distinguished Russian bass of Polish descent, father of Igor (Feodorovich) Stravinsky; b. Noviy Dvor, near Rechitza, June 20, 1843; d. St. Petersburg, Dec. 4, 1902. While pursuing the study of law, he appeared in concerts with such success that he decided to study voice; in 1869 he became a student at the St. Petersburg Cons., where he received vocal training from Camillo Everardi (1871–73). On Sept. 3, 1873, he made his formal operatic debut as Count Rodolpho in La Sonnambula in Kiev, where he continued to sing until 1876. He became a member of the Russian Imperial Opera at St. Petersburg in 1876 and established himself as one of the greatest Russian basses before Chaliapin; his interpretation of heroic and comical characters in Russian operas evoked unbounded praise from the critics. He was famous as Méphistophélès in Gounod’s Faust, and was distinguished not only for the power of his voice, but also for his dramatic talent on the stage. Altogether, he made 1, 235 appearances in 64 operatic roles.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire