Kuuzik, Tiit

Kuuzik, Tiit 

(Ditrikh Ianovich Kuuzik). Born Aug. 29 (Sept. 11), 1911, in Pärnu. Soviet Estonian singer (baritone); People’s Artist of the USSR (1954).

Kuuzik graduated in 1938 from the Tallinn Conservatory, where he studied under A. K. Arder. He appeared as a soloist with the Estonian Opera and Ballet Theater in 1940–41 and became a permanent soloist there in 1944. He is a leading master of Soviet opera.

Among Kuuzik’s best parts are the title roles in Eugene One-gin by Tchaikovsky (State Prize of the USSR, 1950), Boris Godunov by Mussorgsky, and Rigoletto by Verdi; Raju in Singer of Freedom by E. Kapp (State Prize of the USSR, 1952); and Vambo in Fires of Revenge by Kapp. Kuuzik also sings chamber songs.

Kuuzik began teaching in 1940 (professor at the Tallinn Conservatory since 1947). He was a deputy at the fifth convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, two other orders, and various medals.

REFERENCE

Viner, A. “Tiit Kuusik.” Muzykal’naia zhizn’, 1969, no. 2, pp. 17–18.