Pirogov, Alexander (Stepanovich)

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Pirogov, Alexander (Stepanovich)

Pirogov, Alexander (Stepanovich), noted Russian bass; b. Novoselki, July 4, 1899; d. Bear’s Head Island, June 26, 1964. He studied voice at the Moscow Phil. Inst, and simultaneously attended classes in history and philology at the Univ. of Moscow. In 1924 he joined the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, remaining on its roster until 1954. He specialized in the Russian operatic repertoire; his performance of the role of Boris Godunov received a prize in 1949; also notable were his interpretations of Méphistophélès in Faust and Don Basilio in II Barbiere di Siviglia. His 2 brothers, Grigori (1885–1931) and Mikhail (1887–1933), were also notable basses.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire