Zara Dolukhanova

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Zara Dolukhanova (1918-2007) was a Soviet (Armenian) mezzo-soprano who achieved fame performing on many lauded radio broadcasts of operas and works from the concert repertoire during the 1940s through the 1960s. Although considered one of Soviet-era Russia's most accomplished opera singers, Dolukhanova made only a relatively small number of appearances on the actual opera stage and her fame rests primarily in her extensive work for radio and performances on the concert stage. Dolukhanova's voice was a rare coloratura-mezzo, of unique clarity and unusually wide range. Considered one of the great singers of the Soviet era, Dolukhanova was notable for her championing of the operas of Gioachino Rossini, drawing particular acclaim for her Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri and Angelina in La Cenerentola. She also performed a wide range of works from concert repertoire that encompassed most of the great Russian composers as well as numerous works by Handel, Haydn, Mozart and Meyerbeer. In 1966, she was awarded the Lenin Prize. Dolukhanova was born Zara Makaryan, in Moscow, to parents of Armenian descent. Her mother, Elena Makaryan, was also a professional singer, and her father, Aghasi Makaryan, was a professional flautist, clarinettist and trumpeter. She first studied the piano, then the violin, but finally decided at age 16 that she wanted to study singing. She studied at the Gnessin Institute in Moscow with V. Belyayeva-Tarassevitch. She made her operatic debut in 1938 with the Y

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Recital

Zara Dolukhanova

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Tchaikovsky: Complete Romances

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Tchaikovsky: The Oprichnik

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Great Artist Series: Zara Dolukhanova, Mezzo-Soprano

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Anthology of Russian Romance: Mezzo-soprano in the Russian Vocal Tradition

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Singer Portrait - Zara Dolukhanova

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The Record of Singing 1899-1952

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Classical Collection Master Series, Vol. 54

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The Joy of MW

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Récital (Mono Version)

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Récital

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