Leonid Sobinov - Lensky’s Aria

Leonid Sobinov (1872-1934) was a beloved Russian tenor whose career stretched across four decades. Born in Jaroslavl, Sobinov’s initial ambition was to be a lawyer. After completing his law degree at the University of Moscow (and gaining experience as a soloist in the University’s choir), Sobinov began studying voice privately while maintaining his law practice. On the advice of his teacher, the aspiring tenor auditioned for the Bolshoi Opera in 1897 and was awarded a two year contract. In addition to h