The outstanding opera singer, Honorary Freeman of Krasnoyarsk and the Krasnoyarsk Region Dmitri Alexandrovich Hvorostovsky passed away today at the age of 55.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky was born in Krasnoyarsk in 1962. Here he acquired his vocational education. His singing career started here, on the stage of the Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre.

“When Dmitri started to perform in the theatre, he studied at the second year of the Institute of Arts”, says People's Artist of Russia Larissa Marzoyeva, Hvorostovsky's partner in many performances. “- Our principal director Boris Ryabikin brought him to the theatre. He sang quite a decent number of roles during such a short period of time - five years. Like any other artist, Dima started from small parts in children's plays. I remember us singing in such a play - he sang an “aria” of a Hedgehog, and I was a Fox. Then he sang roles of Zemnukhov in “The Young Guard”, Valentin in “Faust”, Yeletsky in “The Queen of Spades”, Eugene Onegin.  Not any novice singer is able to perform the latter one. After this performance it became immediately clear he had a great future”.

In 1989 after he had won the Fourth BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in Wales, United Kingdom, Hvorostovsky came to international prominence - he became a real citizen of the world and took the best opera stages in the world. But he never forgot his native city - he regularly gave concerts here. The last performance of Dmitri Hvorostovsky in Krasnoyarsk took place in the summer of 2017 - even the fact he had injured his hand shortly before didn’t prevent him from entering the stage. “Krasnoyarsk is my native city. I was obliged to come and give the concert. And here I am, no matter what. So I was able to perform for my fellow countrymen, whose love is incredible and very dear to my heart. Such an astonishment, such grandiose feelings, on the verge of human capabilities, I have not experienced for a long time”, - Hvorostovsky told reporters after the concert.

The singer had been struggling with a serious illness for more than two years, his courage and perseverance evoked no less admiration than his talent. Until the last moment, we hoped he will stick it out and overcome a dangerous ailment. But the disease turned out to be stronger... The Krasnoyarsk Opera and Ballet Theatre expresses deep condolences to all the relatives and friends of the artist, to all admirers of his talent. Rest in peace, Dmitri Alexandrovich.