Bolshakov was born into an artistic family.
He studied law in St. Petersburg while simultaneously taking vocal lessons with I. P. Prjanishnikov.
After his vocal training, he began to appear as a soloist in A. D. Sheremetev's symphonic concerts and in an operatic club.
In February 1899, Bolshakov made his debut and appeared in Demon, Knjaz Igor and Cavalleria rusticana on tour in
Kharkiv.
At the end of the same year, he sang in Moscow at the Russian Opera.
In 1900, together with E. Mravinoj, he made a concert tour
in Russia, Ukraine and Siberia. The repertory included compositions by
Mozart, Smetana, Grieg, Puccini, Ukranian composers
and traditional songs.
In January 1901, he made his debut at the St.Petersburg National House.
1901–05, he sang on tour in Kazan, Saratov, Astrakhan, Nizhyn,
Kharkiv (1904, with the A. M. Nazarov company; 1905 with the V. Valentinov company) and Samara.
1904–06, he sang at the St. Petersburg New Opera with the A. A. Tsereteli company; at the Olimpija with the
E. Kabanov and K. Jakovlev companies.
During the summers of 1901 to 1906, he perfected his vocal skills first in Paris with Léon Escalaïs,
from 1902 on also in Milan with
Augusto Brogi. There he appeared in concerts with singers
such as Eugenio Giraldoni.
From 1906 to 1931, Bolshakov was a soloist at the Mariinskij (later the Kirov). He made his debut there on
January 28th, 1905 as Flavij/Oktav de Frossart in Akteja (by Pjotr Shenk) with Kozakovskaja, Filipov,
Smirnov, Safonov, Petrenko, Morozova, Morskoj, Serebrjakov.
He appeared many times at the Mariinskij. His last performance before the theater changed its name
was on November 19th, 1917 as Sinodal. He sang there, among others, Dubrovskij, Sinodal, Duca, Andrej (Mazepa).
In June 1908, he toured Berlin with the A. A. Tsereteli company.
In 1911, he sang Alfredo at the Bolshoj.
1911–13, he was a member of the Russian Seasons given by Serge Diaghilev's company in Paris
(Théâtre des Champs-Élysées) and in London (Drury Lane).
He made guest appearances in Barcelona, Riga, Italy, France (Paris Opéra, The legend of the invisible
city of Kitezh on 6 July 1926 as Kuterma with
the A. A. Tsereteli company).
Bolshakov possessed a strong ringing voice, natural musicality and good acting abilities.
His repertory is said to have consisted of 110
roles, including: Vakula, Sobinin, Levko, German, Ottavio, Faust, Duca, Alfredo, Radames, Samson, Gérald,
Chaplinskij (Pan Voevoda), Vasilij (Kashirskaja starina by Ivanov),
Flavij/Oktav de Frossart
(Akteja by Shenk), Prussian officer
(Pobeda by Shenk),
Vanki-Ptakhi (Tajga
by S. Shtrassenburg), Artemeva
(Front i til by A. Gladkovskij),
Molodogo rabochego and Poselkovogo
nachalnika (Chjornyj jar by
A. Pashchenko), Kiribeevich (Kupets Kalashnikov
by Rubinstein), Rodolfo (Angelo by Cui), Misail,
Kuterma, Narraboth, Kavalier (Der ferne Klang),
Valzacchi, Piquillo (La Périchole), Lenskij, Lykov, José, Pinkerton,
Rienzi, Bajan, Filimon (Melnik – koldun, obmanshchik i svat by M. Sokolovskij),
Sinodal, Vladimir Igorevich, Grigorij, Simpleton,
Andrej Khovanskij, Akhior (Judith by A. Serov), Prince (Rusalka),
Mozart, Vsevolod, Andrej (Mazepa), Prince (Prizrak by M. Danilevskij),
Muri (Sin mandarina by Cui), Petro (Natalka Poltavka),
Troubadour (Chudo rozby by Shenk), Khlopusha
(Orlini bunt by Pashchenko),
Cassio, Peter Ivanov (Zar und Zimmermann), David, Walther (Tannhäuser),
Mime (Siegfried), Hoffmann, ...
His partners included : S. V. Akimova, A. D. Alexandrovich, P. Z. Andreev,
G. A. Baklanov, A. V. Belyanin, A. Ju. Bolsk, G. A. Bosse,
M. I. Brian, E. A. Bronskaja, K. G. Derzhinskaja, S. I.
Druzjakina, I. V. Ershov, P. M. Zhuravlenko, E. I. Zbrueva,
M. V. Kovalenko, A. G. Kozakovskaja, M. N. Benoit, P. I.
Kurzner, F. Litvinne, V. I. Losev, A. D. Mejchik, G.
A. Morskoj, O. F. Mshanskaja, V. K. Pavlovskaja, E.
F. Petrenko, G. S. Pirogov, T. Ruffo, L. Sibirjakov, A.
V. Smirnov, D. A. Smirnov, N. I. Tarasov, I. V.
Tartakov, V. A. Tomskij, N. N. Figner, I. F. Filip,
F. I. Shaljapin, V. S. Sharonov, ...
Conductors he sang under include: A. P.
Aslanov, F. M. Blumenfeld, V. A. Dranishnikov, S. V.
Eltsin, A. L. Klibson, A. Kouts, E. A. Krushevskij, E.
A. Cooper, N. A. Malko, E. F. Napravnik, A. V.
Pavlov-Arbenina, J. Pagani, D. I. Pokhitonov, S. A.
Samosud, V. I. Suk, G. G. Fitelberg, P. P. Shenk, L. P. Shtejnberg, ...
From 1917 to 1934, Boshakov gave 680 free concerts for workers and the Red Army.
From 1923 to 1953, he taught singing at the Leningrad conservatory. He became professor
in 1935 and was also the head of the vocal department. He taught also
at the Musorgskij Music School.
His students included: I. Vutiras, N. Grishanov, S. M. Ivnitskaja, E. Kaplan, N. Filatov, I. P. Jashugin, ...
In April 1951,
there was a celebration for Bolshakov in the large hall of the Leningrad conservatory: a performance of Evgenij Onegin
with his students, and with Bolshakov singing Triquet.
Bolshakov made about 270 records, sometimes under the name Arkadev.
Reference for the biography
Syrena 8415
Stella 12095
| Nikolaj Bolshakov sings | Il trovatore: Ai nostri monti, with Nina Lezhen in Russian
|
Excelsior 4450 (pirate copy of a Gramophone disc)
Syrena 8421, 79 rpm, 2.8 TC
In RA format
Favorite Record 1-75178, 80 rpm, 2.5 TC stylus
In RA format
Syrena 8414, 79 rpm, 2.8 TC
In RA format
| Nikolaj Bolshakov sings | Torna, in Russian
|
In RA format
I wish to thank Otto Striebel for the recordings (Pagliacci, Pikovaja dama).
I wish to thank Vladimir Efimenko for the pictures (2 bottom), biographical notes and recording (Torna).
Discography
G&T, St. Petersburg 1905
3454L Zhizn za tsarja: Our hearts rejoice ... God save the Tsar 24422
(w. Maria Mikhajlova, A. A. Makarova & Lev Sibirjakov)
3457L Nochevala tuchka zolotaja (The evening's golden clouds) (Dargomyzhskij) 24399
(w. Maria Mikhajlova & Lev Sibirjakov)
3458L Na severe dikom (In the wild north) (Dargomyzhskij) 24400
(w. Maria Mikhajlova & Lev Sibirjakov)
3475L Vernis (Torna) (Denza) 2-22903, X-2-62639
3476L Induskaja pesnja (Chant hindou) (Bemberg) 2-22904, X-2-62640, 4-22516
3484L K vostoku, vse k vostoku (To the east, always to the east) (Weihrauch) X-64433
(w. Pavel Andreev)
Columbia, St. Petersburg 1906
35627 Mattinata 35627
35629 Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Va, petit mousse 35629
35630 Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Ja imeni ejo ne znaju 35630
35631 Carmen (Bizet): La fleur que tu m'avais jetée 35631
35634 Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Je regardais en l'air 35634
G&T/Zonophone, St. Petersburg 1906-06
2787k Kak mne bolno (How painful), romans op 14 no 8 (Rakhmaninov) 2-22362 (7")
1129r Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Ja imeni ejo ne znaju 2-22932, X-2-62669
1130r Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Prosti, nebesnoe sozdanye (Forgive me) 2-22933, X-2-62670
1135r Knjaz Igor (Borodin): Medlenno den ugasal (Daylight was fading slowly) 2-22936, X-2-22641
1138r Il trovatore (Verdi): Ai nostri monti (w. Nina Lezhen) X-64429, 60024B
1139r La traviata (Verdi): Libiamo, libiamo (w. Maria Mikhajlova) 24445
1139½r La traviata (Verdi): Libiamo, libiamo (w. Maria Mikhajlova) 24445
1164r Der Obersteiger (Zeller): Shepherd's waltz 2-22949, X-2-62297
1165r Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Je regardais en l'air X-2-62166
1166r La belle Hélène (Offenbach): Le jugement de Paris 2-22951, X-2-62298
1167½r Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): J'ai fait trois fois X-2-62299
1168r Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Va, petit mousse X-2-62167
Rigoletto (Verdi): Quartet (w. Mikhajlova, Lezhen & Andreev) 24436
Rusalka (Dargomyzhskij): Duet (w. Sibirjakov) X-2-64479
Gramophone/Zonophone, St. Petersburg 1906-11
4816L Ehkh ty, pesnja (Oh thou, song) (Glazunov) (w. Lev Sibirjakov) X-64431
4818L Ne iskushaj menja bez nuzhdy (Do not tempt me needlessly) (Glinka) 24451, X-64432
(w. Lev Sibirjakov)
4822L Severnaja zvezda (North star) (Glinka) X-2-62643
4825L Schaukellied (Hollaender) 22512, X-2-62123
Gramophone/Zonophone, St. Petersburg 1906
4909L Die lustige Witwe (Lehár): Ja, das Studium der Weiber ist schwer 22998, X-2-62119
4910L Die lustige Witwe (Lehár): Da geh' ich zu Maxim X-2-62120
4913L Die lustige Witwe (Lehár): Dummer, dummer Reitersmann X-2-62124
4922L La Périchole (Offenbach): Il grandira X-2-62168
4956L Der Zigeunerbaron (Johann Strauß): So elend und so treu X-2-62169
Gramophone/Zonophone, St. Petersburg 1907
2853r Ruslan i Ljudmila (Glinka): Uspokojsja, minet vremja (w. E. Zbrueva) 24465
2855r Le paradis de Mahomet (Planquette): Prince's romance 3-22630
6320L Orphée aux enfers: Song of the actor X-2-62300
6414L La belle Hélène (Offenbach): Duet Hélène–Paris (w. Elena Luchezarskaja) X-64482
6416L La mascotte (Audran): Duet Pipo et Bettina (w. Elena Luchezarskaja) X-64446
6417L La mascotte (Audran): Romance of kisses (w. Elena Luchezarskaja) X-64447
6434L Faust (Gounod): Que voulez-vous, messieurs? 24495
(w. Leonid Savranskij & Boris Veprinskij)
6435L Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Duel scene (w. Leonid Savranskij) 2-24002
6464L Dubrovskij (Napravnik): Ne jamais la voir (w. Maria Mikhajlova) 24496
6465L Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): V nashem dome (In your house) 24499
(w. Nina Panina, Ekaterina Orel, Leonid Savranskij)
Lyrophon, St. Petersburg 1907
Rss349 Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Va, petit mousse 349
Rss350 Schaukellied (Hollaender) 350
Rss351A Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Ja imeni ejo ne znaju 351
Rss352 Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Ja ljublju vas, Olga 352
Rs355 Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Prosti, nebesnoe, sozdanye (Forgive me) 355
Rs356 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 356
Rs357 Halka (Moniuszko): Szumią jodły 357
Rs367 Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Kuda, kuda 367
Homokord, St. Petersburg 1907-08-23
397A Pagliacci: Un tal gioco 4073
Homokord, St. Petersburg 1907-08-26
1197A Pikovaja dama: Chto nasha zhizn? 4079
1529A Rusalka (Dargomyzhskij): Unwillingly to these sad shores, pt. 1 4085a
3107A Rusalka (Dargomyzhskij): Unwillingly to these sad shores, pt. 2 4085b
24107A Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): Va, petit mousse 4080
Homokord, 1907
1578A Walzertraum (Straus): Leise, ganz leise 4161
Homokord, 1908-05-30
498A Carmen (Bizet): La fleur que tu m'avais jetée 4162
Homokord, St. Petersburg 1908-06-02
1768A Lohengrin (Wagner): Nun sei bedankt 4191
Homokord, date unknown
Vernis (Torna) (Denza) 4298
Si vous l'aviez compris (Denza) 4299
Homokord, St. Petersburg 1908-06-10
2278A V Venetsii (In Venice) (Goth) 4302
2278A Otchevo? (Why?) (Chajkovskij) 4303
(no kidding, the matrix number was used twice by mistake)
Pathé, St Petersburg 1909?
27330 Bohème (Puccini): Duetto (w. A. V. Smirnov) 27330
27331 Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Duet (w. A. V. Smirnov) 27331
27336 In the wild north (Dmitrev) (w. A. V. Smirnov & Lanskaya) 27336
27337 A small golden cloud (Dargomizhsky) (w. A. V. Smirnov & Lanskaya) 27337
27340 I haven't the strength to forget (Zubov) 27340
27341 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Un tal gioco 27341
27342 Tosca (Puccini): Assolo di Cavaradossi 27342
27343 Night (Chajkovskij) 27343
27394 Carmen (Bizet): Duo (w. Mikhajlova) 27394
27395 Traviata (Verdi): Duetto (w. Mikhajlova) 27395
27601 Le paradis de Mahomet (Planquette): Prince's romance 27601
27603 Die lustige Witwe (Lehár): Ja, das Studium der Weiber ist schwer 27603
Syrena Record, St. Petersburg 1909
8402 V Venetsii (In Venice) (Goth) 8402
8404 Mashenka (trad.) 8404
8407 Skazi zachem (Davydov) 8407
8409 Para gnedykh (Donaurov) 8409
8412 Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola 8412
8413 Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile 8413
8414 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 8414
8415 Les pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Je crois entendre encore 8415
8420 Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Kuda, kuda 8420
8421 Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Prosti, nebesnoe, sozdanye (Forgive me) 8421
8423 Travushka (The grass) (Varlamov) 8423
Favorite Record, St. Petersburg 1909/1910?
6453-o Severnaja zvezda (North star) (Glinka) 1-75107
Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 1-75108
6455-o Primirenie (Bauer) 1-75109
Vernis (Torna) (Denza) 1-75110
Nero (Rubinstein): Strofy Nerona 1-75111
Si vous l'aviez compris (Denza) 1-75112
Ti moe utro (Vrangel) 1-75113
Tosca (Puccini): Zvezdi jarko gorli 1-75114
Giulia (Denza) 1-75115
V Venetsii (In Venice) (Goth) 1-75116
Les cloches de Corneville (Planquette): J'ai fait trois fois le tour 1-75159
Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Ja ljublju vas, Olga 1-75160
Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Kuda, kuda 1-75161
Der Vogelhändler (Zeller): Wia mei Ahnl zwanzig Jahr' 1-75164
Walzertraum (Straus): Leise, ganz leise 1-75175
Der Obersteiger (Zeller): Sei nicht bös' 1-75176
6579-o Pagliacci: Vesti la giubba 1-75177
6580-o Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Ja imeni ejo ne znaju 1-75162
6581-o Halka (Moniuszko): Szumią jodły 1-75163
6582-o Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Chto nasha zhizn? 1-75178
Homokord, 1910-06-09
23610A Der Bettelstudent (Millöcker): Ich knüpfte manche zarten Bande 4986
Stella Concert Record, St. Petersburg 1910
12042 Severnaja zvezda (North star) (Glinka) 12042
12054 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 12054
12055 Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle 12055
12056 Rusalka (Dargomyzhskij): Unwillingly to these sad shores, pt. 1 12056
12057 Rusalka (Dargomyzhskij): Unwillingly to these sad shores, pt. 2 12057
12058 Poslednij nyneshnij denechek (These is the last day) (trad.) 12058
12059 Otojdi (Go away) (Davydov) 12059
12070 Schaukellied (Hollaender) 12070
12071 Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Prosti, nebesnoe sozdanye (Forgive me) 12071
12076 Die lustige Witwe (Lehár): Da geh' ich zu Maxim 12076
12077 Dubrovskij (Napravnik): O daj mne zabvenie (O give me oblivion) 12077
12078 Evgenij Onegin (Chajkovskij): Kuda, kuda 12078
12080 Pikovaja dama (Chajkovskij): Chto nasha zhizn? 12080
12092 Halka (Moniuszko): Szumią jodły 12092
12094 V Venetsii (In Venice) (Goth) 12094
12095 La Juive (Halévy): Rachel, quand du Seigneur 12095
12165 Walzertraum (Straus): Leise, ganz leise 12165
12169 Vernis (Torna) (Denza) 12169
12171 Zachem? (Why?) (Davydov) 12171
Pathé, St Petersburg 1911?
24335 Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 24335
24336 Torna (Denza) 24336
24337 Reconciliation (Minaevich) 24337
24338 Severnaja zvezda (North star) (Glinka) 24338, 52502
24339 Die lustige Witwe (Lehár): Da geh' ich zu Maxim 24339, 52995
24340 Manon (Massenet): Le rêve 24340
24341 Night of love (Valentinov): Entrance couplets 24341
24342 Walzertraum (Straus): Waltz 24342
24346 Dollarprinzessin (Fall): My dear little friend 24346
(w. Zbrozhek-Pashkovskaja)
24347 Graf von Luxemburg (Lehár): Walzer 24347
24348 Dollarprinzessin (Fall): Paradise of the little one 24348
(w. Zbrozhek-Pashkovskaja)
24349 Graf von Luxemburg (Lehár): Swinging carelessly 24349
(w. Zbrozhek-Pashkovskaja)
Parlophon/Beka
12122 La belle Hélène (Offenbach): Le jugement de Paris 12122
12123 Der Obersteiger (Zeller): Sei nicht bös' 12123
45466 Torna (Denza) 45466
45467 Si vous l'aviez compris (Denza) 45467
Reference for the discography the two excellent sites 78opera.com (defunct) and
Russian Records.