Oscar Kamiоnsky - Russian opera and chamber singer (lyric baritone) and music teacher, one of the prominent vocalists of the Russian opera scene at the turn of the 19^th – 20^th centuries that had a huge number of ardent admirers among the audience and imitators among singers.

High vocal skills and distinctive artistry rather quickly made the singer successful on the Russian opera stage. Twenty years of the singer's artistic life were associated with different opera and non-repertory theatres in Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov and Tiflis. The operatic repertoire of Kamionsky was significant - more than forty roles! Kamionsky could sing all parts after a couple of rehearsals! These were the requirements of provincial scene of that time. It is accepted that Oscar did not possess a strong voice; hence it was of very beautiful timbre and wide range. He mastered the art of bel canto and mezza voce, paid great attention to the manner of the image execution (make-up, stage outfit, facial expressions), which was highly appreciated by the audience at all times.

Kamionsky can be deservedly called the "The King of gramophone". He made about 400 (!) recordings during the first decade of the 20th century. They were arias and duets from operas and comic operas, romances and folk songs. The impressive performance of Figaro's cavatina from “The Barber of Seville”, the aria of Count di Luna from “The Troubadour”, the aria of Renato aria from “Un ballo in maschera” by Verdi, the death scene of Valentine (opera “Faust” by Charles Gounod) are worth of noting especially. Kamionsky brilliantly sang Neapolitan songs, lyrical romances by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Anton Rubinstein. Despite the technical imperfection, these recordings have retained the distinctness of his voice, mastery and interpretation reading.

For the birthday of the Russian opera and chamber singer, we have prepared a musical selection made up of his recordings stored in the Musical Library of the museum Collection.