Ольга Ковалёва

Olga Kovaleva (July 23 [August 4] 1881, Lyubovka village, Saratov province, Russian Empire - January 2, 1962, Moscow, USSR) - Russian and Soviet singer (contralto), People's Artist of the RSFSR (1947). In 1906 she graduated from the Music classes of the Saratov branch of the Russian Musical Society. In 1907-1909 she studied at the opera courses of Ippolit Pryanishnikov in St. Petersburg. As part of a private opera company, she toured in various cities of Russia. She sang in the opera houses of the province. However, her true vocation was the performance of Russian folk songs. Under the guidance of the famous folklorist E. Lineova, she prepared a concert program on their basis, with which she began performing in Moscow in 1912. As a result, since 1913 Kovaleva mainly performed as a performer of folk songs. In this capacity, she toured Europe (Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Germany). Since 1924 she worked as a soloist of the All-Union Radio and was awarded the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR. Kovaleva is the author of the lyrics and melodies of many popular songs.

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