Pavel Gerasimovich Lisitsian

Born Oct. 24 (Nov. 6), 1911, in Vladikavkaz. Soviet Armenian singer (baritone); People’s Artist of the USSR (1956). Member of the CPSU since 1949.

Lisitsian was a soloist with the Leningrad Malyi Opera Theater (1935–37), the Armenian Theater of Opera and Ballet (1937–40), and the Bolshoi Theater of the USSR (1940–66). A leading Soviet opera singer, Lisitsian possesses a bright voice with a wide range, beautiful timbre, flawless intonation, and perfect diction.

Lisitsian’s numerous roles have included Eletskii, Onegin, Mazepa, and Robert in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, Eugene Onegin, Mazepa, and Iolanthe; Germont and Amonasro in Verdi’s La Traviata and Aida; Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen; Tatul in Spendiarov’s Almast; the title role in Chukhadzhian’s Arshak II; and Napoleon in Prokofiev’s War and Peace (1959; premiere).

Lisitsian gives recitals. He taught at the Yerevan Conservatory from 1967 to 1973 (department chairman in 1969, professor in 1970). He has toured abroad. He has been awarded two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor.