# Elena Obraztsova

> Soviet and Russian opera singer (1939–2015)

**Wikidata**: [Q464791](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q464791)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Obraztsova)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/elena-obraztsova

## Summary
Elena Obraztsova was a Soviet and Russian opera singer and music educator, active from 1963 until her death in 2015. Recognized as one of the most significant mezzo-sopranos of her era, she received the Soviet Union's highest honors, including the title Hero of Socialist Labour and the Order of Lenin.

## Biography
- **Born:** July 7, 1939 (some sources list 1937).
- **Died:** January 12, 2015.
- **Nationality:** Soviet Union; Russia.
- **Education:** Saint Petersburg Conservatory.
- **Known for:** Opera performance (mezzo-soprano), music education, and acting.
- **Employer(s):** Saint Petersburg Conservatory; Moscow Conservatory.
- **Field(s):** Opera, Romance music, Music Education.

## Contributions
Elena Obraztsova's career as an opera singer spanned over five decades, beginning in 1963. She specialized in the opera genre and romance musical forms. Beyond her performance career, she contributed to the field of music education through her work as an educator. Her influence extended to dramatic arts as an actor in theatrical productions. Her legacy is further commemorated through the asteroid **4623 Obraztsova**, which is named in her honor.

## FAQs
**What awards did Elena Obraztsova receive?**
She received numerous prestigious awards, including Hero of Socialist Labour, the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, and the title People's Artist of the USSR. She also won the Lenin Prize and the Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR.

**Where was Elena Obraztsova educated and employed?**
She was educated at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and later served as an educator at both the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and the Moscow Conservatory.

**How is Elena Obraztsova commemorated outside of music?**
An asteroid, designated 4623 Obraztsova, was named in her honor, reflecting her significant cultural impact.

## Why They Matter
Elena Obraztsova holds a distinguished position in the history of Russian and Soviet performing arts. As a recipient of the Hero of Socialist Labour and the Order of Lenin, she achieved the highest level of state recognition possible in the Soviet Union, signifying her paramount contribution to the cultural life of the nation. Her dual role as a performer and educator allowed her to shape the trajectory of Russian opera both on stage and through the training of future generations at elite institutions like the Saint Petersburg and Moscow Conservatories. The naming of asteroid 4623 Obraztsova serves as a permanent celestial tribute to her enduring legacy in the arts.

## Notable For
- Being a Hero of Socialist Labour (highest decoration of the Soviet Union).
- Receiving the Order of Lenin.
- Holding the title People's Artist of the USSR.
- Winning the Lenin Prize for her artistic contributions.
- Serving as a music educator at the Saint Petersburg and Moscow Conservatories.
- Having an asteroid (4623 Obraztsova) named after her.
- Being a recipient of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.
- Receiving the Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR.
- Being named a People's Artist and Merited Artist of the RSFSR.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Elena Vasiliyevna Obraztsova was born on July 7, 1939. Historical records also show an alternative birth year of 1937. She pursued formal training in music at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, an institution established in 1862. This education laid the foundation for her professional debut in 1963.

### Operatic Career
Obraztsova dedicated her professional life to the opera genre. As an opera singer, she possessed a mezzo-soprano voice type. Her work period officially began in 1963 and continued throughout her life. She was not only a singer but also recognized as an actor, performing in dramatic and comic productions within theatrical settings. Her repertoire included opera and romance, a musical form characterized by brief, simple melodies.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Obraztsova accumulated an extensive list of state awards and honors from both the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation.
**Soviet Honors:**
- **Hero of Socialist Labour:** The highest decoration in the Soviet Union, awarded for services to the state.
- **Order of Lenin:** The highest decoration awarded by the Soviet Union from 1930 to 1991.
- **People's Artist of the USSR:** An honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union.
- **Lenin Prize:** One of the most prestigious awards of the Soviet Union.
- **Order of the Red Banner of Labour:** An order of the Soviet Union awarded for labour achievements.
- **People's Artist of the RSFSR and Merited Artist of the RSFSR:** Soviet titles of honor granted at the republic level.
- **Glinka State Prize of the RSFSR:** A former Soviet award for musicians.

**Russian Federation Honors:**
- **Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg":** A commemorative medal established in 2003.
- **Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow":** A jubilee medal established in 1997.
- **Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow:** An award of the Russian Orthodox Church established in 1988.
- **Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude:** A certificate established in 2008.

### Academic and Educational Work
Obraztsova was a dedicated music educator. She was affiliated with two of Russia's most prestigious music institutions: the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and the Moscow Conservatory. The Moscow Conservatory, a higher musical education institution founded in 1866, served as a key employer during her educational career.

### Legacy
Elena Obraztsova passed away on January 12, 2015. Her legacy is cemented not only through her recordings and students but also through the astronomical object **4623 Obraztsova**, an asteroid named in her honor. She is remembered as a towering figure in Russian and Soviet culture, maintaining official websites and a significant presence in cultural encyclopedias such as the *Great Russian Encyclopedia*.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
3. Operabase
4. BnF authorities
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. MusicBrainz
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. IMDb
10. Find a Grave
11. Munzinger Personen
12. [Grove Music Online](https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-5000006257)
13. [Prabook](https://prabook.com/web/yelena.obraztsova/1309634)
14. [Elena Obraztsova, inextingible llamarada rusa](https://miamiclasica.com/2015/01/14/elena-obraztsova-inextingible-llamarada-rusa/)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](http://digitale.beic.it/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?fn=search&vid=BEIC&vl%283134987UI0%29=creator&vl%28freeText0%29=Obrazčova%20Elena%20V.)
17. IdRef