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

The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky) I love you 2-22756 2961L G&T -05
The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky) I love you 2-22756 2961L G&T St. Petersburg, 1905
The Singer (Rubinstein) 22977 2094B G&T, 15-5-02
The Tzar’s Bride Where is my old adventurous spirit 0222024 2936c Gramophone St. Petersburg 25-11-1913
Torna (Denza) 2-22742 2829L G&T St. Petersburg, 1905
Torna, neapolitan song (Denza) 3-22769 7173L Gramophone, Moscow 1908
Traviata (Verdi) Aria di Germont 21117 Pathé, St Petersburg 1911
Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza 1-75331 10503-0 Favorite Kiev, 02-02-1911
Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza 2-22787 2896L G&T St. Petersburg, 1905
Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza 3-22757 6673L Gramophone, Moscow 1908
Traviata (Verdi) Di Provenza 411 Artistopia, 1913
Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen del suo sorriso 2-22799 2965L G&T, 1905
Trovatore (Verdi) Il balen del suo sorriso 14029 940 Anker, Berlin 1906
Uncle, favor of the Lord (Pashalov) 20885 Pathé, St Petersburg 1911
Vieni, Romans (Denza), na italyanskom yazike (sung in Italian) 222328 5011ae Gramophone, 13-9-13
Vorrei morire (Tosti) 1-75538 Favorite Kiev, 02-02-1911 stug
Vorrei morire (Tosti) 2-22700 2794L Gramophone St. Petersburg, 1905
Why, romance (Kudrin) 4-22143 14745b Gramophone St. Petersburg, 12-09-1910
Zaza (Leoncavallo) Zaza piccolo zingara 3-22768 7170L G&T Moscow, 1908
Zazà (Leoncavallo) Zazà, piccola zingara 3-22767 7169L G&T Moscow, 1908