Sofya Preobrazhenskaya (Mezzo-soprano)

Born: September 9, 1904 - Peterburg, Russia
Died: July 21, 1966 - Leningrad, Russia

The great Russian mezzo-soprano Sofya [Sofia, Sophia] Petrovna Preobrazhenskaya, studied with Ivan Ershov at the Leningrad State Conservatory.

Sofya Preobrazhenskaya made her operatic debut at the Kirov Theatre in Leningrad in 1928 and worked there until 1959. Her strong voice with unique range and timbre beauty allowed her to perform such roles as Marfa in Hovanschina by Musorgsky, Joan in The Maid of Orleans and the Countess in The Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky, Lyubasha in The Tsar's Bride by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Azucena in Il Trovatore. She also performed Songs and Dances of Death by Mussorgsky.

Sofya Preobrazhenskaya taught as a professor at the Leningrad Concervatory from 1949 to 1953. She had many Soviet state awards which included two decorations and various medals.

Source: Great Soviet Encyclopedia Website, English translation by Alexander Volkov (August 2006)
Contributed by Alexander Volkov (August 2006); Manfred Krugmann (Photos 02-05, July 2011)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Under her name

Alto

BWV 33, BWV 54, BWV 86, BWV 457, BWV 478

Links to other Sites

Преображенская Софья Петровнa (Oval) [Russian]