Description

OSCAR KAMIONSKY (KIEV, 18 (30), 1869 – YALTA, 15 AUGUST, 1917)

From 1888 to 1891, he studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Everardi, Gabel, and Palechek. On the advice of Anton Rubinstein, he went to Italy to study voice with E. Rossi. In 1892, he made his debut at the Teatro Bellini in Naples, followed by performances at opera houses in Florence (notably as Tonio in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci) and at the Royal Opera House in Athens. In 1893, he returned to Russia, performing in Kharkiv (1893-94, 1898-99), Kiev (1894-95, 1902-04), Rostov-on-Don (1895-96), and Tiflis (1896-1901), among other cities. During the 1904-05 season, he sang at the Private Opera House of Tsereteli in St. Petersburg, and from 1905 to 1908, he appeared at S. Zimin’s Opera House in Moscow.

In 1909, Kamionsky toured the cities of Siberia and Japan. He retired from the stage in 1915. Kamionsky possessed a relatively small but beautiful voice with a refined upper register. A master of bel canto, he performed both lyrical and dramatic roles, earning him the nickname “the Russian Battistini.” Throughout his career, he performed over 40 roles and was regarded as the leading Russian baritone of his era. Known for his brilliance and precision, he was also considered somewhat self-centered. His life was tragically cut short by cancer.

TRACKLIST

Aida (Verdi) Su dunque, sorgete (w. Yermolenko-Yuzhina) 024028 338m Gramophone, Moscow 1908
Amore, amore (Tosti) 4-22152 14754 Gramophone, 12-9-10
And spring will return for me (Prigozhev) 21202 Pathé, St Petersburg 1911
At the ball (Tchaikovsky) 3-22770 7175L Gramophone, Moscow 1908
At the ball (Tchaikovsky) 7039 Beka, St. Petersburg 1906
Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 409 Aristopia, 1913
Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 1070-I 941-3 Anker, Berlin 1906
Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 4446 4446 Excelsior, St. Petersburg 1905
Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) Eri tu 22898 609 x G&T, 15-2-02
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 13640 Stella
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 14024 930 Anker, Berlin 1906
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 022081 242m Gramophone, St. Petersburg, 1905
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum 022102 302m Gramophone Moscow, 1907
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al Factotum G&T 2-22789 2898L St. Petersburg, 1905
Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Numero quindici (w. Karenzin) X-64245 Zonophone, Moscow 1908
Bless you, forests (Pilgrim’s song) 3-22948 8650L Gramophone 1-2-09
Carmen (Bizet) Votre toast 3-22755 6670L Gramophone Moscow, 1908
Carmen (Bizet) Votre toast 408 Aristopia, 1913
Carmen (Bizet) Votre toast 14025 931 Anker, Berlin 1906
Cloches de Corneville (Planquette) Une servante, que m’importe 1-75330 Favorite Kiev, 02-02-1911