Andrey Labinsky (Tenor) (Kharkov 1871 – Moscow 1941)

                                                              Almaviva

                                                                   Faust

During his childhood, he was in Siberia, where his father was banished for revolutionary activity. He studied at the Tyumenschool. Labinsky studied singing at the Petersburgconservatoire (1895-1899) with Gabel and Samus. He made his debut in 1899 at the Mariinsky (debut in as Berendey – ‘’Snegurochka’’). At that theater he sang the role of Vsevolod in the 1907 premiere of Rimsky-Korsakov's ‘’The Invisible City of Kitezh’’. He sang there up to 1912 and during 1919-1924. Labinsky sang at the Bolshoi during 1912-1919 and during 1924-1926. He toured often much Russia and was one of the first Russian singers to sing for the first time in Japan. Upon his retirement he became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory. His soft voice had a wide range up to high f. Among his best lyrical roles were Lensky, Dubrovsky, Vladimir (‘’Prince Igor’’), Indian guest, Sinodal, Alfredo, Duca, and Almaviva. He also attempted to sing roles such Raoul, Samson, and Radames. Labinsky recorded more than 300 sides (1901-1915). He died in Moscow on August 8th 1941 during an air raid.

Chronology of some appearances

1899 St.Petersburg Mariinsky Theatre Snegurochka (Berendey)

1907 St. PetersburgMariinsky Theatre The Invisible City of Kitezh (Vsevolod)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T 1901

In my blood the fire of desire burns, Romance (Glinka) 22331 2612G

Dubrovsky (Napravnik): O give me oblivion (Napravnik) 22332 2642G

North Star G&T 22430 2998G

G&T  St. Petersburg 1905

Rigoletto (Verdi): Questa o quella 2-22802 442x

Gramophone 1905

Poet (Krotkov): Aria of Luiidy  2-22745 2821L

Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Whither, whither 2-22760 2958L       

Les Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Raoul’s Aria 2-22775 2975L

Demon (Rubinstein): Prince Sinodal's aria 2-22776 2976L

Gramophone 06-1906

Rusalka (Dargomyzhsky): Unwillingly to these sad shores 2-22926 1118r

Rusalka (Dargomyzhsky): Everything here reminds me 2-22927 1119r

Ivan Susanin (Glinka): Brothers in the snowstrom 2-22929 1121r       

Dubrovsky (Napravnik): O give me oblivion 2-22930 1122r

Gramophone 1906

Faust (Gounod): Salut demeure 3-22534 4936L
Serenade (Night descended on the earth) 3-22556 4994L

Askold's tomb (Verstovsky): Near the town of Slavyansk 3-22557 49011/2L

Gramophone  St. Petersburg 1908

A Life for the Tzar (Glinka): The rose which blooms with M. Mikhailova, G. Nikitina and L. Sibiryakov  2-24157 7839L

Prince Igor (Borodin): Vladimir's cavatina 3-22830 7794L     

Snow Maiden (Rimsky-Korsakov): So full of wonders 3-22855 7795L   

Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky): I love you Olga 3-22856  7797L

Halka (Moniuszko): The wind wails in the hills 3-22862 7796L          

Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of India 3-22863 7798L