Description

ALEXANDER DAVIDOV (ALEXANDER DAVIDOFF) (POLTAVA, 25 MARCH, 1872 – MOSCOW, 28 JUNE, 1944)

 

 

 

 

His real name was Israel Levenson.

His early vocal training began in church choirs, and he later studied under the esteemed professor Camillo Everardi in St. Petersburg from 1890 to 1892.

Career Highlights:

Debut: Davidov made his stage debut in 1889 at Ekaterinoslav in G. Verdi’s La Traviata.

Early Career: He toured extensively with various opera and operetta companies, performing in Kharkov, Nizhny-Novgorod, and other provincial centers.

Odessa Opera and Mamantov’s Company: He joined the Odessa Opera and, in 1896, became a member of Mamantov’s private opera company in Moscow.

Imperial Opera: In 1900, he was engaged by the Imperial Opera in St. Petersburg (Mariinsky Theatre). He also gained notable success with guest performances in Paris.

Mariinsky Theatre: Davidov remained with the Mariinsky Theatre until 1914. His career was affected by increasing deafness, which limited his performances after 1912.

Later Career: From 1914 to 1924, he was active as a concert singer. He lived abroad for some years and briefly worked as a regisseur with Russian opera companies in Paris.

Return to Russia: He returned to Russia in 1935 and, from 1936 until his death in 1944, taught at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad.

Legacy: Despite his deafness, Davidov made some electrical recordings in Paris in the late 1920s, including self-composed songs. He is remembered as one of the greatest Russian tenors of his time, known for his versatility in both lyrical and dramatic roles.

Death: He passed away in 1944.

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

A Pair of Bay Horses (Prigozhiy) 1-75302 2067-b Favorite, St.Petersburg 01-06-1910

Africaine (Meyerbeer) O chudnyi kray (O paradis) X-2-62548 G&T, St Petersburg 1905

Africana (Meyerbeer) O Paradis 22810 470x G&T, St. Petersburg 1901

Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida 2-22733 2848L G&T, St Petersburg 1905

Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida 22812 472x G&T, St. Petersburg 1901

Carmen (Bizet) C’est toi! C’est moi! (w. Zbrujeva) 024025 316m Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1908

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) O Lola 22814 322z G&T, St. Petersburg 1901

Cradle song (Gretchaninov) 7395 Beka-Grand

Don’t leave me (Torna a Surriento), Neapolitan romance 4-22184 14927b Gramophone, St. Petersburg 4-10-10

Dubrovsky (Napravnik) O give me oblivion 22062 296z G&T, St. Petersburg 1902

Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Stzena pered duelyu – cho zhe nachinat (w. Kamionsky) 24388 2833L Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1905

Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Mazurka and Quarrel scene – You do not dance (w. Sokolsky) 24478 6280L Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1907

Faust (Gounod) Il se fait tard (w. Michailova) 24486 6314L Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1907

Faust (Gounod) Oui, c’est toi, je t’aime (w. Michailova) 24488 6316L Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1907

Faust (Gounod) Salut demeure 22100 295M G&T, St. Petersburg 1907

Il segreto (Tosti) 22808 468x G&T, St. Petersburg 1901

In the Wild North (Dargomyzhsky) (w. Michailova & Kastorsky) 024031 419s Gramophone, St. Petersburg 1909

Juive (Halevy) Rachel, quand du Seigneur 18001 4-20009 6744 12 r Muzpred 1908/1909

Juive (Halevy) Rachel, quand du Seigneur 22518 261G G&T, Moscow 1901

Juive (Halévy) Rakhil ty mne dana (Rachel, quand du Seigneur) X-2-62547 Zonophone, St Petersburg 1902