Iurii Lazarevich Popov

Born Sept. 14, 1929, at the stanitsa (large cossack village) of Zelenchukskaia, Stavropol’ Krai. Soviet Russian dramatic baritone. People’s Artist of the USSR (1978). Member of the CPSU since 1966.

In 1959, Popov graduated from the Saratov Conservatory, where he had studied voice under A. I. Bystrov. He was made a soloist with the Saratov Theater of Opera and Ballet in 1956. Popov’s roles have included Griaznoi in Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tsar’s Bride and the title roles in Borodin’s Prince Igor, Rubinstein’s The Demon, and Verdi’s Rigoletto. He has also sung the roles of lago in Verdi’s Otello, Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca, Listrat in Khrennikov’s Into the Storm, Egor Bol’shov in Molchanov’s Russian Woman, and Kiazo in Paliashvili’s Daisi.

Popov has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and various medals.