Dmitry Alexandrovich Hvorostovsky

The Citizen of the World

«“This is one of the world’s most amazing singing careers in recent decades. His voice intoxicates with luxury: a beautiful timbre, precise intonations, an elegant and passionate performance.” .

New York Times

D. A. Hvorostovsky was born on October 16, 1962 in the city of Krasnoyarsk, into the family of Russian intellectuals Alexander Stepanovich and Lyudmila Petrovna Hvorostovsky. Their house was always filled with sounds of music, they loved and understood it.

According to his own memoirs, Dima Hvorostovsky began singing at the age of 4. When he was 6, he went to the secondary school No. 94 in Krasnoyarsk, and a year later he entered the Children's Music School No. 6, majoring in piano. He had absolute pitch, a good pianistic apparatus, and a clear and gentle voice. He solved solfeggio exercises quickly and correctly. But he did not have much zeal for study.

A year later, Dima Hvorostovsky transferred to the music school No. 4, which he graduated in 1978. In 1979 he entered the Krasnoyarsk Pedagogical College named after A.M. Gorky, the department of choral conducting. Here he met his first vocal teacher G.A. Astanina. She was the one to awake his professional interest in vocals, made him believe in himself, in his abilities, and taught how to use them. In 1982, he entered the Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Arts (class of prof. E.K. Iofel).

Since the third year of the institute (1984) Dmitry Hvorostovsky worked at the Krasnoyarsk State Opera and Ballet Theater. Over the five years of work, the young vocalist sang almost all the leading parts for baritone. At the same time, he started participating in competitions. In July 1987, he won his first ever All-Russian vocal competition in Perm. In October 1987 he won the first prize at the M.I. Glinka All-Union Competition of Vocalists. In 1988, he won the Grand Prix at the International Singing Competition of Toulouse (France). The peak of his victories was the Grand Prix at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World (Wales). The victory in Cardiff (1989) caused the breakthrough that made the unknown young vocalist from Krasnoyarsk the most sought-after opera performer. The best opera stages and concert halls opened for him: The Metropolitan Opera (New York), Covent Garden (London), La Scala (Milan), etc.

In 1990, Hvorostovsky gave a farewell benefit concert at the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theater and left to pursue a solo career in the West.

In 1995, D.A. Hvorostovsky was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia by President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin. By that time he already was a universally acclaimed opera singer and had other government awards: Merited Artist of the Russian Federation (1990), the RSFSR State Prize honoree (1991), the prize of Trade Unions winner (1991).

During his brilliant career, D.A. Hvorostovsky created a whole gallery of characters: Onegin, Yeletsky, Germont, King Alfonso, Count Almaviva, Valentin, Ricardo, Renato, Silvio, Figaro, Don Juan, Don Carlos, Rigoletto, Andrei Bolkonsky, Simon Boccanegra, Count di Luna, Demon et al.

Participation in the world’s leading opera houses performances revealed Hvorostovsky as a multifaceted artist with a powerful dramatic potential and a rare preference for subtlety and psychologism over the external vocal effect.

Dmitry Hvorostovsky is recognized not only as an outstanding opera singer, but also as a master of performing vocal works of various genres: romances and songs by Russian and foreign composers, baroque arias, Russian folk songs, Soviet songs, wartime songs. The most noteworthy song cycles: “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen” (“Songs of a Wayfarer”) by G. Mahler, “Songs and Dances of Death” by M. Mussorgsky, “The Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti” by D. Shostakovich, “Russia Cast Adrift” and “Petersburg” by G. Sviridov, sacred music of Russians composers.

Throughout his artistic career, Dmitry Hvorostovsky promoted Russian music, introduced foreign listeners to it. In 2004, he became the first opera singer to give a solo concert with a choir and an orchestra on Red Square in Moscow.

“Russian Songs from the War Years” performed by Hvorostovsky created a nationwide sensation in Russia. In this project, he returned to his roots, to the music of his childhood and youth, to his grandfather Peter Teterin who died in the early days of the war somewhere near Rzhev, and to his grandmother (M.N. Weber-Teterina), whose stories made him realize and feel what a war is.

Loving Russia and promoting the best of its musical heritage, Hvorostovsky also promoted the world opera in Russia. In 2006, Dmitry Alexandrovich started the unique project “Hvorostovsky and Friends”, created in order to acquaint Russian opera fans with world-famous stars. Among them are the golden American soprano Renée Fleming, the “Korean soprano” Sumi Jo, Sondra Radvanovsky (soprano), the German opera singer Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), the Latvian singer Elīna Garanča (mezzo-soprano), the Azerbaijani singer Yusif Eyvazov (tenor) and many others.

On October 12, 2015, President of Russia Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky to Dmitry Hvorostovsky "for his contribution to the development of Russian culture and art." September 11, 2017 D.A. Hvorostovsky was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" of the IV degree.

Despite his health getting worse, Hvorostovsky continued to work while he still had strength; he could not imagine his existence off-stage, without his beloved work. This helped him live and fight.

On April 25, 2017, a triumphant performance by Dmitry Hvorostovsky with Anna Netrebko and Yusif Eyvazov took place in Toronto. Then he performed at the gala concert dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Metropolitan Opera. On May 27, 2017, he took part in a concert on Palace Square in St. Petersburg, dedicated to the City Day. On June 2 he performed a long-awaited concert in his homeland - the city of Krasnoyarsk. Endless applause accompanied the entire performance of the Great Artist!

Velvet Siberian baritone, Russian prince, Siberian Express, Siberian tiger, Silver-Maned Baritone From Siberia, the Elvis of Opera – his many names given by fans, journalists and colleagues all over the world! People’s Artist of Russia, the winner of numerous awards, the best baritone of the 21st century, singer of the world, magnificent Maestro - and just Dima.

Dmitry Alexandrovich Hvorostovsky
was and remains in our hearts the pride of Russia,
the citizen of the world
the musical genius of universal importance.
His voice will sound Forever, captivating millions of listeners with its beauty.