A big man with a big voice

An honored artist of RSFSR Vladimir Afanasievich Prudnik is turning 80 on 5th August. During his active years, since 1971 to 2011, he has sung about 40 parts with the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet theatre. As for the present time, Vladimir Prundik is the professor of Vocal Singing Faculty at the Novosibirsk State Conservatoire named after M. I. Glinka.

“I was lucky enough to work with this great singer and actor on the stage of our theatre — operas like „The Tsar’s Bride“, „Prince Igor“, „Khovanshchina“, „Boris Godunov„ — tells an Honored Artist of Russia Yury Komov, the lead opera soloist of NOVAT — voices like this are extremely rare“.

Vladimir Prudnik was invited to the company of the Novosibirsk theatre in 1971. He came to the Siberian stage having already worked at Kazan and Gorky opera theatres, and his first appearance was on 13th May 1971 as Yeletsky in Tchaikovsky’s „Queen of Spades“. But his first big role, according to his words, was Venetian guest in Rimsky-Korsakov’s „Sadko“.

„I was mastering Venetian guest with Isidor Zak. He was very punctual about each character — told Vladimir Prudnik in one of his interviews — he is calling an artist and the lesson begins. Venetian guest only has one famous aria and that’s all. But I received about 15 lessons about it. The part seems to be ready, but he keeps calling me and making remarks. However, the part is ready for life“.

Born in Nikopol, Dnepropetrovsk oblast, Vladimir started his way to the music theatre with amateur artistic performances — with his brother, who later would also become an outstanding opera singer (National Artist of RSFSR Alexander Prudnik — lead soloist of the Novosibirsk opera form 1971 to 2002) they sang at the school chorus. After finishing school he worked at the South Pipe metallurgic factory in Nikopol, where he also took part in amateur performances. In 1961 he entered Lvov conservatory, then transferred to Kyiv conservatory, which he graduated in 1966.

“I met Vladimir Afanasievich on 28th April 1989, during auditions to the theatre, where I was singing Lyubasha part from „The Tsar’s Bride„ and Vladimir Prudnik was playing my partner, Gryaznoy — told the Manager of the Opera Company Olga Obuhova, an Honored Artist of Russia — I remember I was stunned by the beauty of his massively filled baritone, its composure and floating impression. We have been partners on the stage for twenty years and I must admit he is a unique person and as the time have shown, a brilliant tutor, who have raised a lot of wonderful singers“.

The students of Vladimir Afanasievich Prudnik are currently working at several Russian theatres, including the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet theatre.

„There’s no doubt, Vladimir Prudnik belongs to a cohort of outstanding singers of our theatre who definitely possessed unique voices — reckons Yury Komov — it’s not just a unique voice he possesses, it’s a big personality“.

The theatre company congratulates the Master on his anniversary!