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.