Elena Stepanova, "Shakh-senem" (R. M. Glier) 1937

Many thanks to " musique0308 " for this recording.
Elena Andreyevna Stepanova (1891-1978) , the outstanding Russian soprano, the People's Artist of the USSR, the star of the Bolshoi theater (1912-1924, 1927-1944). Was very successful as Gilda, Violetta, Rosina, the Snowmaid, Volkhova, Shemakhan Tsarina (from the Golden Cockerel). On stage she worked with Sobinov, Chaliapin, Nezhdanova, Lemeshev.
Here she sings an excerpt from the opera "Shakh-senem" by the Russian/Soviet composer Reinhold Glier. On the photo she is in the costume of Shemakhan Tsarina (from the production of "The Golden Cockerel")

[@RoyKa2010]

Astonishing performance! I love her agility and her powerful surge into the higher register.
It does sound exotic. Sometimes, I hear some perhaps Azerbaijani elements in the music.
For me, Russia/USSR is just a gold mine of great voices! Still exploring it :) Thanks for sharing!

[@MrNebolsin]

Как жаль,что от великой певицы Елены Андреевны Степановой осталось так мало записей! Они умещаются на одной виниловой пластинке!

[@younglemeshevist]

Thank you for the comment!

[@boothtarkington2681]

If the singers of Russia back then were singing today, they would surpass all the singers in the operatic world today. Indeed, if they had been allowed to leave Russia then to come to the Metropolitan Opera, they would have been a formidable challenge to the Met singers