Dmitriev Alexander Dmitrievich (1832-1899)

Dmitriev Alexander Dmitrievich (stage name; born Aaron Garfeld; 1832 or 1835, Mitava (now Jelgava) – 14/26 December 1899, Saint Petersburg) — opera singer (baritone), director and teacher.

From the age of eleven, Alexander Dmitriev sang in choir. He received his initial musical education under the singing master Messner. In 1851, he left his parental home and, in Saint Petersburg, met Mikhail Glinka at the salon of Princess Potemkina. On Glinka’s recommendation, he was accepted into the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, studying voice with N. Vitelaro and F. Ricci.

Between 1857 and 1861, Dmitriev refined his vocal art in Paris under the tutelage of Fontana and took lessons from Jean Duprez. Gioachino Rossini, upon hearing him, praised his talent; Dmitriev possessed a powerful voice and a brilliant bel canto technique, effortlessly mastering technical challenges. He made his debut at the Paris Opéra (“Grand-Opéra”) and gave successful concerts in England.

Further training in Milan with F. Lamperti included roles such as Rigoletto and Don Pasquale; he performed at the Teatro Carcano in Milan and Teatro Pagannini in Genoa, and gave concerts in Paris. In 1862, he made his debut at the Saint Petersburg Opera in the role of Count di Luna. From 1864 to 1877, he was principal soloist at the Bolshoi Theatre (Moscow), performing roles such as Drulav in Rogneda and Sultan in Zaporozhets za Dunayem. Between 1877 and 1882, he served as chief stage director at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, staging productions including Verdi’s Aida and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.

Dmitriev retired from the stage in 1882. In 1887, he founded the “Opera‑Drama Classes” in Saint Petersburg, devoting himself to teaching and artistic direction.

About: R-sky V. Artists of Moscow Russian Opera (Артисты московской русской оперы) Театр. афиши и антракт. 1864. № 162. С. 3.