Valeria Barsova is an opera singer with a voice of rare beauty. There was a lot in her life: experiments in the musical cabaret and the opera stage, front-line concerts and teaching. The singer managed to form a unique repertoire and become a truly national artist. However, success had to pay with personal disorder and loneliness.
Youth, maturity, creativity
Barsova's real name is Kaleria Vladimirova. She was born in 1982 in Astrakhan, into an intelligent musical family. Kaleria received a good education, graduating from the conservatory in two classes at once: piano and solo singing. She planned to become a pianist, but life decided otherwise.
The girl studied with the most famous teachers of that time, but her sister became the best example for her. She had a wonderful voice, musical flair and, as it turned out later, outstanding teaching abilities. The sister undertook to teach Kaleria and she made great strides.
Unbeknownst to her family, the girl decided on an adventure by going to an audition at the Bat cabaret. She was immediately accepted, her relatives were indignant, but had to put up with it. So that she would not be confused with her older sister, also a singer, Kaleria took a pseudonym and forever became Valeria Barsova.
The career of the young singer began brilliantly. In 1917, fate brought Valeria to the opera stage. She had an amazingly clear voice: a soft lyric soprano with a wide range. A year later, the singer was accepted into the troupe of the Bolshoi Theater, where she worked for the next 28 years.
In the late 1920s, Barsova toured a lot, traveled abroad. She composed her own program, combining opera arias, romances, folk songs and the best works of Soviet composers. The audience appreciated the actress's original repertoire and impeccable musical taste, concerts invariably gathered full houses. Fans called the singer "Russian Nightingale".
During the war, Barsova, along with other artists, went to the front. Concerts were often held in the open air; they had to rehearse in the cold. Later, the singer was surprised that in extreme conditions she did not lose her voice. Barsova transferred most of her pre-war savings to the needs of the front.
Farewell to the big stage
In 1948, the singer left the Bolshoi Theater and came to Sochi, planning to open her own vocal studio. Later, a dacha was built in the resort town, where Barsova spent several months a year. Her friends and colleagues came here: Ulanova, Utesov, Kozlovsky, Bieshu, Kabalevsky.
Rest at the resort Barsova has always combined with work. She gave voice to young singers, helped in drawing up the repertoire, and was a member of the artistic council of the Philharmonic.
Valeria Barsova's merits were marked with the highest awards: the Orders of Lenin and the Red Banner of Labor, the medal "For Valiant Labor during the Great Patriotic War." The singer died in 1967 and is buried in the Sochi cemetery.
Personal life
Barsova carefully guarded her life outside the stage. It is only known that she did not have a family. In the 30-40s, she was credited with a connection with Joseph Stalin, but this remained at the level of rumors. The truth is that Stalin always invited operas to public and private concerts, publicly admiring her extraordinary voice.
