Milashkina, Tamara Andreyevna (1934—)

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Milashkina, Tamara Andreyevna (1934—)

Russian soprano. Born in Astrakhan on September 13, 1934.

Was the first Soviet singer to perform at La Scala; made a National Artist of the USSR (1973).

Tamara Milashkina was still a student when she was engaged as a soloist at the Bolshoi Opera in 1958. She had studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Yelena Katulskaya . Four years later, she appeared as Lida in Verdi's La battaglia di Legnano at La Scala, becoming the first Soviet singer to appear in this revered opera house. Milashkina was particularly well known for her portrayal of Tchaikovsky heroines Tatyana, Lisa, and Mariya and was filmed as Feroniya in Rimsky-Korsakov's Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh in 1966. She also appeared in Prokofiev's War and Peace as Natasha and as Lyubka in Semyon Kotko. Her voice was known for its unusual warmth and beauty. In addition to appearances throughout Europe, Milashkina also sang at the Metropolitan Opera.

John Haag , Athens, Georgia