Tchaikovsky
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Nikolai Figner (1857–1918)

Nikolai Figner

Russian lyrical-dramatic tenor (b. 9/21 February 1857 in Nikiforovka, near Kazan; d. 13 December 1918 in Kiev), born Nikolai Nikolaevich Figner (Николай Николаевич Фигнер, Nikolaj Nikolaevič Figner, Nikolay Nikolayevich Figner).

After studying in Saint Petersburg and Naples, he toured widely in Europe and Latin America, before becoming lead tenor at the Mariinskii Theatre in Saint Petersburg from 1887 to 1907. Here he performed at the premieres of Tchaikovsky's operas The Queen of Spades and Iolanta, in the roles of Herman and Vaudemont respectively. In both cases Tchaikovsky wrote additional numbers at the tenor's request. Figner also gave notable performances as Lenskii in Evgenii Onegin and Andrei in The Oprichnik.

From 1910 to 1915 Figner directed and sang with the Narodnii Dom (Народний дом) opera company in Saint Petersburg.

Tchaikovsky's works dedicated to Nikolai Figner:

• Six Romances, Op. 73 (1893).

Tchaikovsky's correspondence with Nikolai Figner:

• 1 letter from Tchaikovsky to Nikolai Figner has survived, dating from 1890.