Vedernikov, Alexander
Vedernikov, Alexander
Vedernikov, Alexander, Russian bass; b. Mokino, Dec. 23, 1927. He studied voice at the Moscow Cons., graduating in 1955. He won 1stprize at the International Schumann Competition in Berlin in 1956 and, in the same year, 1stprize at the Soviet competition for his performance of songs by Soviet composers. In 1957 he made his debut at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow as Susanin. In 1961 he entered the La Scala Opera School of Milan as an aspirant and subsequently toured as a concert singer in France, Italy, England, Austria, and Canada. He also sang with the Bolshoi Theater, with which he made tours abroad. He was particularly noted for his performances of the Russian repertoire; his portrayal of Boris Godunov in Mussorgsky’s opera approached Chaliapin’s in its grandeur. He also distinguished himself in Italian buffo roles.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire