14 Facts About Elena Obraztsova

Elena Obraztsova was awarded the People's Artist of the USSR in 1976 and Hero of Socialist Labour in 1990.

From 1957 to 1958, Elena Obraztsova studied in Rostov-on-Don's music school.

Elena Obraztsova's introduction to the opera houses of Europe and the world was a recital in the Salle Pleyel in Paris.

Elena Obraztsova played many roles throughout her career, including performances under the baton of such leading conductors as Claudio Abbado and Herbert von Karajan.

Elena Obraztsova first performed in New York in 1976, in Aida, and was called a "major artist" in reviews.

Elena Obraztsova appeared as Santuzza in Zeffirelli's film version of Cavalleria rusticana in 1982.

In June 2007, Elena Obraztsova was appointed artistic director of opera at the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg.

Elena Obraztsova trained young soloists in her own cultural center in St Petersburg.

Elena Obraztsova regularly appeared on stage at the Mikhailovsky in the role of the Countess in Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades.

In 2008, Elena Obraztsova ended her artistic director contract with the Mikhailovsky to concentrate on the competition of her name and the recently announced project of International Academy of Music in St Petersburg.

Elena Obraztsova remained in collaboration with the Mikhailovsky at the General Director's Artistic Advisor.

Elena Obraztsova strongly supported the Soviet Union, and signed a letter in 1974 denouncing Mstislav Rostropovich and Galina Vishnevskaya for their support for Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

Elena Obraztsova was married twice, first to Vyacheslav Makarov, a physicist, and later Algis Ziuraitis, who was a conductor at the Bolshoi.

Elena Obraztsova died on 12 January 2015 in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, while undergoing medical treatment.