Nasyrova, Khalima

Born Dec. 29, 1913, in the kishlak [village] of Taglyk, near Kokand, in present-day Fergana Oblast. Soviet Uzbek soprano. People’s Artist of the USSR (1937).

Nasyrova studied at the Baku Theater Technicum from 1924 to 1927 and at the Uzbek opera studio of the Moscow Conservatory from 1934 to 1937. She made her debut in 1927 as a dramatic actress at the Khamza Theater; later she performed at a theater of music and drama. In 1939, Nasyrova became the principal soloist at the A. Navoi Uzbek Theater of Opera and Ballet.

Nasyrova skillfully combines the traditions and methods of the Russian classical vocal school with a distinctive national timbre. Her best roles have included Leili and Giul’sara in Gliére and Sadykov’s Leili i Medzhnun and Giul’sara, Sin Dun-fan in Kozlovskii’s Ulugbek, Zukhra in Dzhalilov and Brovtsyn’s Takhir i Zukhra, Maisara in Iudakov’s Maisara’s Pranks, and Carmen in Bizet’s opera of the same name.

Nasyrova was a deputy to the fifth convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. She was awarded the State Prize of the USSR in 1942 and 1951 and the Khamza State Prize of the Uzbek SSR in 1971. She also received two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, four other orders, and several medals.