Nikolay Baskov deserves the order

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Congratulations to Nikolai Baskov! President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed a decree on nominating the singer to the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree.

The 30-year-old artist, opera soloist of the Mari State Opera and Ballet Theater, will be awarded a state award "for many years of fruitful work and services in the field of culture and art."

A graduate of the Gnessin Academy of Music, Nikolai Baskov won the All-Russian Competition for Young Opera Singers (1998), received second prize at the Grande Voce Competition (1999). Since 1998 he has performed at the Bolshoi Theater. By 2006, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Russia, People's Artist of Ukraine, received the Ovation Prize, the Belarusian Order of Francysk Skaryna, and the Gold Medal of the Peace Foundation.

In 2002, Nikolai's fateful meeting with the legend of world opera, the great soprano of the twentieth century, Montserrat Caballe, took place. After a series of joint performances, Mrs. Caballe offered Nikolai regular classes to improve vocal technique. From that moment on, his fate changed dramatically.

And not so long ago, a few weeks ago, the legendary opera singer Montserrat Caballe actually made Baskov her successor. Caballe invited the Russian tenor to Swiss Basel. There, in the heart of Europe, a special concert and reception was held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first debut of Montserrat Caballe on stage. The place was not chosen by chance - it turned out that the city of Basel, which has a rich history, at one time was very warmly welcomed by Montserrat.

According to Nikolai Baskov, the magnificent ancient cathedrals and city squares are imbued with the spirit of freedom. It was in this beautiful place that the legendary singer first appeared on the stage half a century ago. At the concert, Nikolai Baskov sang the famous Lensky aria, after which Montserrat Caballe said that on this day she wants to pass the baton to her new voices: Nikolai Baskov, Montserrat's daughter, Marty, and the winner of her last competition, Oleg Romashin.