Petrova-Vorobyeva A.Y., (1817-1901), singer

Categories / Art/Music, Theatre/Personalia
PETROVA-VOROBYEVA (nee Vorobyeva) Anna Yakovlevna (1817 - 1901, St. Petersburg), opera singer (contralto), actress, chamber singer. Wife of O.A. Petrov. Graduated from the Theatre School, studying ballet with Ch. Didelot, and singing with A. Sapienza and G.Y. Lomakin, and improved her vocals under the guidance of K.A. Cavos and M.I. Glinka. In 1833 she made her opera debut with the role of Pippo (The Thieving Magpie by G. Rossini). In 1835, after having played role of Arsace (Semiramide by G. Rossini), she became a soloist at the Petersburg Imperial Opera, working until that time in the choir. Her last role as an actress came in 1846, and as an opera singer in 1850). Her most recognized roles were: Vanya (A Life for the Tsar) and Ratmir (Ruslan and Lyudmila; both operas by Glinka); Tancredi (Tancredi by G. Rossini); Romeo (The Capulets and the Montagues) and Adalgisa (Norma; both by V. Bellini). Petrova-Vorobyeva had a wide-ranging voice with rare colours of tone, as well as a great dramatic talent and stage presence. Starting in 1832 she participated in concerts together with her husband: singing arias and duets from operas and romances by Glinka, A.S. Dargomizhsky, and M.P. Mussorgsky. She wrote Memoirs on the Occasion of the 500th Performance for the Tsar on 27 November, 1879 (Russkaya Starina. 1880. vol. 27. March. Reprinted as Glinka in Recollections of his Contemporaries. Moscow, 1955). She was originally buried at Smolenskoe Orthodox Cemetery, and in 1936 her ashes were transported to the Necropolis of the Masters of Arts.

References: Гозенпуд А. А. Музыкальный театр в России от истоков до Глинки: Очерк. Л., 1959; Его же. Русский оперный театр XIX века, 1836-1856. Л., 1969.

E. V. Tretyakova. Bellini Vincenzo
Cavos Caterino Albertovich
Dargomyzhsky Alexander Sergeevich
Didelot Charles Louis Frederic
Glinka Mikhail Ivanovich
Lomakin Gavriil Yakimovich (Ioakimovich)
Mussorgsky Modest Petrovich
Petrov Osip Afanasievich
Petrova-Vorobyeva Anna Yakovlevna
Rossini Gioacchino
Sapienza Antonio
Гозенпуд А. А. Музыкальный театр в России от истоков до Глинки: Очерк. Л., 1959
Гозенпуд А. А. Русский оперный театр XIX века, 1836-1856. Л., 1969 Theatre College
Necropolis of Artists