Juozas Rimas wrote:

>>I always wondered whether the Russian bass Fiodor Shalyapin (1873-1938)
>>was known in the US/Europe, and I have an opportunity now:)

Steve Schwartz responded:

>Are you kidding? He had a *huge* career outside Russia.  In fact, he even
>acted in (silent) movies.

Actually, Chaliapin's biggest movie role was in a "talkie," the title role
in the 1933 French version of "Don Quixote." Music for that one, by the
way, was composed by Jacques Ibert, excerpts of which are currently
available on a Marco Polo CD.

People in the States not normally familiar with opera and opera singers
knew of Chaliapin, he was that famous.  Ezio Pinza played him in the movie
"Tonight We Sing," a biopic of impresario Sol Hurok.

John Dalmas
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