From 1903 to 1908 he studied at the school of Music and Drama in Moscow with Mikhail Medvedev, then with Lavrenti Donskoi. He made his debut in 1908 at the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre as Kaspar in ''Der Freischütz'' of Carl Maria von Weber. After this appearance he was engaged by the Opera Theatre of Rostov-on-Don. Here he sang in different operas appearing also in Verdi's ''Aida'' and ''Rigoletto''. In 1909 Pirogov made his debut at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg as Nilakanta in ''Lakme''. From 1910 to 1915 and from 1917 to 1921 he was a soloist of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre. From 1915 to 1916 Pirogov performed in Odessa Theatre, from 1916 to 1917 at the National House. In 1920s he sang in S. Zimin's Opera Theatre, where three brothers performed in one of the few performances of A. Rubinsteina's opera ''Demon'' (Grigori as Demon, Aleksandr as Prince Gudal, Mikhail as old footman). Here in 1922 he sang the role of Orlik in Tchaikovsky's opera ''Mazepa''. Since 1921 Pirogov appeared also in concerts and in opera performances in many cities of Sibir, Ural, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. He made guest appearances in Budapest (1914), Riga (1923), Berlin (1923), Prague, Bucharest and Copenhagen (1924) appearing in ''Faust'', ''Il Barbiere di Siviglia'' and ''Boris Godunov''. In 1930 Pirogov sang at the Moscow Second State Academic Theatre of the Opera and Ballet. He possessed in all registers a strong, orotund and equal voice of the soft ‘’Violoncello’’ timbre and a wide range (оver two octaves: from mi of the big octave up to sol # of the first). He freely overcame difficulties and the tessitura. Pirogov appeared on the opera stages not only as bass, bass-profundo but also as baritone and sang totally 52 parts in different operas (from them 28 in Russian repertoire).
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Pathé, Moscow 1910?
How the king went forth to war (Koenemann) 21742
Lakmé (Delibes): Stances 21743
Faust (Gounod): Serenade de Méphistopheles 21744
Song of the needy pilgrim (Manikin-Nevstruev) (w. chorus) 21745
Dubinushka (Aleksandrov) (w. chorus) 21746
Arise, red sun (Prigozhev) (w. chorus) 21747
Askold's Tomb (Verstovsky) Aria of the Unknown Mann 21748
Last voyage (Alnæs) 21749
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