Yekaterina Massini
Russian soprano and opera artist (b. 1840 in Saint Petersburg; d. 12/25 February 1912 in Kiev, born Yekatrina Avgustovna Vedenyapina (Екатерина Августовна Веденяпина), but known on stage and in her professional career as Yekatrina Massini (Екатерина Массини).
After taking music classes at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, and privately in Milan, Yekaterina Massini made her debut at La Scala in Milan in 1866, and later performed Madrid and Lisbon, before joining the provincial operas in Odessa (1868–1874), Kiev (1874–1878), Kazan (1878–79), and the Bolshoi Theatre company in Moscow (until 1881). In her later years, she taught at music schools in Kiev and Odessa.
Tchaikovsky was in the audience for her debut in the Kiev production of The Oprichnik in December 1874, writing that Madame Massini (Natalya) performed her role with remarkable passion, intelligence, and sensitivity" (see TH 298).
Dedications
In 1875, Tchaikovsky dedicated his song He Loved Me So Much — No. 4 of the Six Romances, Op. 28 — to Yekaterina Massini.
External Links
- Wikipedia (Russian)
