Mykola Leonidovych Ohrenych

Mykola Ohrenych was born in 1937 in Ivanivka, a village in the Odessa area. He studied singing at the Odessa conservatory with Olga Mykolaivna Blagovydova (1960–64).

Still a student, Ohrenych made his debut in 1962 at the Odessa Musical Comedy Theater.

From 1968 to 1988, Ohrenych was a member of the Odessa Opera.

1967–69, he continued his studies in Milan at La Scala, giving concerts in Milan and Florence.

From 1970, he taught singing at the Odessa conservatory (where he became rector in 1984 and professor in 1988).

His repertory included: German, José, Canio, Levko, Lenskij, Vodemon, Grigorij, Cavaradossi, Rodolfo, Ottavio, Pinkerton, Turiddu, Petro (Natalka Poltavka), Manrico, ...

Ohrenych appeared in the 1969 film "13 poruchenij" (Thirteen assignments), and he played the main role in the 1971 film comedy "Operatsija Gertsog".

In 1970, Ohrenych was the winner of the International Chajkovskij Competition (over Nesterenko and Sotkilava), while at the vocalist competition in Varna in 1969, he was number seven. In 1965 at the All-Union Vocalist Competion, he received a diploma.

Ohrenych died in 2000 after a serious illness.
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An interesting detail on Ohrenych: in the jury of the Chajkovskij competition mentioned in the biographical notes was Maria Callas (the two photos on the left must have been taken on that occasion), and she was, as opposed to the rest of the jury, not enthusiastic about Ohrenych. She predicted his voice wouldn't last due to a lack of proper technique. And though the other jury members awarded him the first prize, she was right, and he ruined his voice quickly. (Maria Callas was actually the right person to judge it – her own career had been pretty much the same!)
Robert Schlesinger

I wish to thank Thomas Silverbörg for the recording (Cavalleria).

I wish to thank Vladimir Efimenko for the recording (Pikovaja dama).

I wish to thank Vera Lyakhova for her help.