BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The Armenian baritone Pavel Gerasimovich Lisitsian was born at Vladikavkaz in Armenia on the 6th of June 1911. Born in a laborer's family, he first worked in a diamond drilling group and later as a welder. He first sang in a church choir, then at age 19 went to Leningrad, to study the cello. He debuted there as an actor in 1932. By then, the quality of his voice was sufficiently evident to justify serious musical studies.

Between 1932 and 1935 he attended the Leningrad conservatory and made his debut at the Maly theater. From 1935 to 1937 he appeared at Yerevan in the Spendiarov Company noted in the title-role of the opera Arshak II by Chukadjan. In 1940 he was engaged at the Moscow Bolshoi Opera house as leading baritone, where he remained until his retirement from the stage in 1966. He was awarded the title of "People's artist of the USSR". For his 60'th anniversary he appeared at Leningrad in a quartet with his three children.

http://russia-in-us.com/Music/GRV/Lisitsian/