Alexander Filippovich Vedernikov (December 23, 1927, Vorobyova Gora (or Mokino) — January 9, 2018, Moscow) was an outstanding Soviet and Russian opera singer (bass), as well as a teacher. He received the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1976, and in 1969 he was awarded the USSR State Prize.
Alexander Vedernikov was born on December 23, 1927, either in the village of Vorobyova Gora or in the village of Mokino (both settlements are located in the Sovetsky district of the Kirov region).
From 1943 to 1947, he studied at the Korkin Mining College and attended the fine arts circle at the local Bolshoy Gornyak club. Then he continued his education, completing two courses at the Sverdlovsk Tchaikovsky Music College.
In 1955, Alexander graduated from the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory, where his mentor was Rosa Alpert-Khasina.
From 1955 to 1958, Vedernikov was a soloist at the Leningrad Kirov Opera and Ballet Theater, which is now known as the Mariinsky Theater.
From 1958 to 1990, he served as a soloist at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
In the period from 1960 to 1961, he completed an internship at the La Scala Theater in Milan under the direction of Maestro Barr.
Alexander Vedernikov also performed as a concert singer, organizing many philharmonic concerts. His chamber repertoire included works by both Russian and foreign composers.
Since 1954, he has toured extensively abroad, performing in countries such as France, Iraq, the GDR, Italy, England, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Austria and others.
Vedernikov was engaged in teaching. From 2006 to 2009, he worked as a vocal consultant at the Bolshoi Theatre, and many of his students were soloists at the Bolshoi Theatre.
Since 2008, he has served as the artistic director of the Russian Opera Theater in Moscow, which was closed in 2015.
Alexander Vedernikov was a full member of the Academy of Folk Music and the Russian Academy of Art Studies and Musical Performance, as well as a member of the Union of Theatrical Figures of the Russian Federation.
His discography includes more than thirty CDs of romances, songs, arias and oratorios.
Alexander Filippovich Vedernikov passed away on January 9, 2018, he was 90 years old. On January 12, a farewell ceremony was held at the church of the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and Sofia on Sushchevsky Val, after which he was buried at the Miusskoye cemetery in Moscow next to his loved ones.
