Remembering Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the great Russian baritone, died November 22, 2017, at age 55, after a battle with brain cancer. He was a beloved figure at the Met and one of the world’s most extraordinary operatic artists. Hvorostovsky made his company debut in 1995, as Prince Yeletsky in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, a role that showcased his burnished sound and remarkable breath control. In his more than 20 years with the Met, he gave more than 180 performances, including unforgettable turns as Germont in La Traviata, Andrei in War and Peace, Rodrigo in Don Carlo, Count Anckarström in Un Ballo in Maschera, Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, and the title roles of Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, and Eugene Onegin, among others. Watch some highlights below:

Hvorostovsky’s final Met performance came in May 2017, when, despite suffering from his brain tumor, he made a heroic surprise appearance at the company’s 50 Years at Lincoln Center gala, to the thrill of the audience, the company, and all his fellow artists.

“Dmitri was one of opera’s all-time greats, truly an artist for the ages,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb after his passing. “In addition to his astounding vocal gifts, he had an electrifying stage presence and a charisma that won over both his adoring audiences and his devoted colleagues. He will be sorely missed by the entire Metropolitan Opera family.”