Ivan Melnikov

Born Feb. 21 (Mar. 4), 1832, in St. Petersburg; died there June 25 (July 8), 1906. Russian singer (lyric dramatic baritone).

From 1861 to 1866, Mel’nikov took voice lessons from G. la. Lomakin and sang in the choir of the Free Music School. In 1866 he completed his training in Italy. He worked in the Mariinskii Theater from 1867 to 1892. One of the greatest representatives of the Russian vocal dramatic school, Mel’nikov possessed a powerful, even voice that was especially strong in the upper register. He was also a great actor. He sang in the premieres of Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov (1874; the title role), Tchaikovsky’s The Oprichnik (1874; Prince Viaz’minskii), and Borodin ’$ Prince Igor (1890; the lead role). Mel’nikov was outstanding in the role of the Miller in Dargomyzhskii’s Rusalka. Tchaikovsky’s art song “Never Spoke I to Her”was dedicated to Mel’nikov.