Vladimir Dragoș (born 1 March 1943) is a Soviet and Moldovan operatic baritone.
Vladimir Dragoș | |
|---|---|
 Vladimir Dragoș in the Organ Hall of Chișinău | |
| Born | 1 March 1943 |
| Nationality | Soviet Union, Republic of Moldova |
| Occupation | Operatic baritone |
| Years active | 1972 to present |
Biography edit
Vladimir Dragoș was born on 1 March 1943[1][2] in the town of Basarabeasca[3] (at that time, the territory of Romania). Outstanding talent and brilliant vocal skills helped the young singer to enter the Chișinău Institute of Arts named after Gavriil Musicescu, bypassing the music college.[2] After graduating from the Conservatory in 1970, Dragoș first appeared on the opera stage in 1972, singing the role of Rigoletto in Giuseppe Verdi's opera of the same name in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.[4] He began his opera career in Buryatia, at the Ulan-Ude Opera House. Since 1976, he has returned to Moldova, where he has become a soloist of the Chișinău Opera and Ballet Theater.[5] In 1986, he was awarded the medal "For Labor Valor". In 1988, Vladimir Dragoș was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.[6]
After the collapse of the USSR, he continued to live and work in the Republic of Moldova, where he became a Laureate of the State Prize of Moldova, as well as a Knight of the Order "Gloria Muncii". For many years he worked as the Artistic Director of the National Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Moldova named after Maria Bieșu.[2][7]
Currently, Vladimir Dragoș teaches vocal art at the Exemplary Art Education Center "Ștefan Neaga" (Chișinău).[4] Dragoș brought up a whole galaxy of opera stars, including Natalia Gavrilan,[8][9] Petru Racovița, Liliya Sholomey[10] and many others.[2]
On 5 March 2023, Vladimir Dragoș celebrated his eightieth birthday by singing his signature role — Rigoletto — on the stage of the National Opera and Ballet Theater of Moldova.[11] The Moldovan newspaper Săptămână published an enthusiastic review of this performance, in which its author, journalist Aurelian Danilă, described Vladimir Dragoș as one of the most outstanding representatives of vocal art in Moldova. According to Danilă, who recalled the times when the great Soviet-era Moldovan singer Maria Bieșu performed on the stage of the National Opera and Ballet Theater, the Chisinau Opera Theater did not know such powerful ovations and shouts of "Bravo" yet. The article quotes the outstanding opera conductor Alexander Samoilă, who called Vladimir Dragoș a phenomenon of opera in general and Moldovan opera in particular, a genuine Verdi baritone, and the phenomenon of preserving Dragoș' voice, according to the conductor, is associated with a sacrificial attitude to the art that he serves.[12] On 12 March 2023, Vladimir Dragoș's anniversary concert was held with great success in the Chișinău Organ Hall, at which the hero of the day himself, his students and associates performed.[4]
A television film "Vladimir Dragoș Sings" was made about the performing art of Vladimir Dragoș.[6]
Roles in opera performances edit
- Rigoletto ("Rigoletto" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Renato ("Un ballo in maschera" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Nabucco ("Nabucco" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Macbeth ("Macbeth" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Iago ("Otello" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Figaro ("The Barber of Seville" by Gioachino Rossini);
- Germont ("Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Amonasro ("Aida" by Giuseppe Verdi);
- Escamillo ("Carmen" by Georges Bizet);
- Tonio ("Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo);
- Scarpia[13] ("Tosca" by Giacomo Puccini);
- Sharpless[14] ("Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini);
- Marcello ("La bohème" by Giacomo Puccini);
- Alfio ("Cavalleria rusticana" by Pietro Mascagni)
- Gryaznoy ("The Tsar's Bride" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov);
- Robert ("Iolanta" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky).[2]
Awards edit
He is the Diploma winner of the Glinka Vocal Competition (1973).[2]
Touring and creative activities edit
Currently, Vladimir Dragoș goes on tour abroad. Among the countries he visited on tour: Italy, Netherlands, England, Germany, Belgium, Russia, Ukraine,[15] Romania, Bulgaria and others.[2][6] Especially a lot of reviews in the press about the art of Vladimir Dragoș were published in the UK, in which the singer toured repeatedly. The art of singing Dragoș was described in the British press as outstanding, his performance of the Rigoletto and Scarpia parts was recognized as strong and exceptional.[14][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]
He performed in collaboration with various well-known performers, including Irina Arkhipova, Elena Obraztsova, Maria Bieșu, Anna Netrebko and others.[6]
References edit
- ^ A show dedicated to master Vladimir Dragoș will take place on Sunday in Chișinău
- ^ a b c d e f g Elena Uzun. Moldova. Opera. Ballet: A History. Persons. Premieres. (Елена Узун. Молдова. Опера. Балет. История, персоны, премьеры). Chișinău 2019. Bons printing house. ISBN 978-9975-87-469-4. Essay "Vladimir Dragoș. Anniversary", p. 32-34 (rus.)
- ^ "Vladimir Dragoș — the man who perceives the world through music" ("Vladimir Dragoș — omul ce percepe lumea prin muzică"). Your life (Viața ta) magazine, nr. 4 (79), 2013, p. 18-19 (rom.)
- ^ a b c Elena Kovalsky. "Organ Hall: Vladimir Dragoș' anniversary evening" (Елена Ковальски. "Органный зал: юбилейный вечер Владимира Драгоша"). The Russian Word (Русское слово) newspaper, №10 (863), 17.03.2023, p.6 (rus.)
- ^ Site of Opera Scotland, page of Vladimir Dragoș touring
- ^ a b c d Vladimir Dragoș's page on the website of the National Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Moldova named after Maria Bieșu
- ^ Marina Tsonina: "High art helps to find yourself" (Мария Цонина: "Высокое искусство помогает найти себя"). Moldavskie Vedomosti (Молдавские Ведомости) newspaper, 23.11.2012 (rus.)
- ^ Natalia Gavrilan. Official website — About.
- ^ NATALIA GAVRILAN. MezzoSoprano. Website AC-ARTISTS.COM. Artists Management, date of access: 13.04.2023 (it.)
- ^ International Academy os Music, Prof. Liliya Sholomey
- ^ Rigoletto. Jubilee show Vladimir Dragoș 80 years. Site of Moldovan National Theatre of Opera and Balletnamed Maria Bieșu
- ^ Aurelian Danilă, "Music at the beginning of spring" ("Muzica la început de primăvară"). The Week (Săptămână) newspaper, 07.04.2023, p. 12 (rom.)
- ^ Preview: Chișinău National Opera production of Tosca, Grand Opera House, York, June 10, site The Press, 1st June 2007
- ^ a b Ron Simpson. "Madama Butterfly – Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, 30.01.2022
- ^ Tomila Kononova. "Opera is a spectacle of feelings". "Rigoletto" (Томила Кононова. "Опера — зрелище чувств". "Риголетто"). All - Ukrainian Vedomosti (Всеукраинские Ведомости), 04.04.1997 (rus.)
- ^ Paul Genty. "International opera trio returns". Website theatrereviewsnorth.com, 25.01.2022
- ^ Chris McCullough, "Opera virgin one day — Number One fan the next". News Letter Lifestyle (Northern Ireland), 27.04.2006.
- ^ "Opera dares to bare all". Solihull News, 12.05.2006.
- ^ Jo Sykes, "A moving look at love, life and death". Stradford Upon Avon Observer, 11.05.2006.
- ^ "Opera review. Rigoletto/Liverpool Empire". Liverpool Daily Post, 05.05.2006.
- ^ Kay Carson, "One night is not enough for opera". The Blackpool Gazette, 01.05.2006.
- ^ Theatre and gig reviews — BBC website, 24.05.2006
- ^ Rathcol, "A thrilling night of psychological drama" — Belfast Telegraph website, 14.03.2002.
- ^ Christopher Gray. Review: Die Fledermaus & Tosca @ New Theatre, Oxford — Oxford Mail website, 03.03.2016.