Obituary, Dmitri Hvorostovsky (1962-2017)

We have just heard the terrible news that Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky has died of a brain tumour at the age of 55. Mr Hvorostovsky was born on 16th October 1962 in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, and made his debut (in a small role in Verdi’s Rigoletto) in his hometown before rising to international prominence following several major competition victories, including a now legendary battle with fellow baritone Bryn Terfel at the 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. (Hvorostovsky netted the main prize with a searing account of Posa’s death-scene from Don Carlo, whilst Terfel was awarded the song prize – the two men went onto sing opposite one another in Mozart’s Figaro a few years later).

After spending his early career focusing on Mozart and bel canto roles such as Belcore in L’elisir d’amore and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Hvorostovsky went on to have enormous success in Verdi (notably Germont in La traviata, Rodrigo in Don Carlo and Renato in Un ballo in maschera) and in Russian opera, particularly as Eugene Onegin. (Hvorostovsky effectively ‘owned’ this role for a quarter of a century, recording it for Semyon Bychkov just a year after his Cardiff triumph; reviewing a Covent Garden performance which took place shortly after his cancer diagnosis in 2015, The Guardian noted that ‘His voice remains terrific in its warmth, technical assurance and expressive range’ and his characterisation of Tchaikovsky’s Byronic anti-hero was typically ‘charismatic and provocative’). He also championed Russian song repertoire in the concert-hall and recording studio, winning especial acclaim for his interpretations of Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death, works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, and folk-songs from his native country. (His 2015 album of songs by Shostakovich and Liszt was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award, and a recital of Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin received a Grammy nomination twenty years earlier).

Charismatic and strikingly glamorous on stage, his sensuous baritone was underpinned by almost superhuman breath-control and paired with an electrifying dramatic instinct which won him legions of admirers in opera-houses all over the world. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and retired from the operatic stage a year later, after treatment for the tumour which would claim his life began to affect his balance and mobility, but continued to sing in concert until this summer – one of his final performances was a surprise appearance at this year's Met Gala, where his impassioned account of Rigoletto’s vicious ‘Cortigiani’ monologue received a lengthy standing ovation. (His last recording project was a complete Rigoletto, made in studio last July and due for release on Delos very shortly).

A statement released by Hvorostovsky's office this morning confirmed that he died 'peacefully, surrounded by family' in London where he had been receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital; he is survived by his wife Florence and four children.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky: a selected discography