Laptev, Konstantin

Born Oct. 21 (Nov. 3), 1904, in Kiev. Soviet Russian baritone. People’s Artist of the USSR (1957). Became a member of the CPSU in 1931.

In 1929, Laptev graduated from the Kiev Conservatory, where he had studied under M. M. Engel’-Kron. He was a soloist at the Odessa (1930–41), Kiev (1941–52), and Leningrad (1952–65) theaters of opera and ballet. Laptev has a mellifluous voice of pleasant timbre and great vocal and dramatic skill. His best roles have included Eletskii and Robert in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades and Iolanta, the Demon in Rubinstein’s The Demon, and Amonasro and Rigoletto in Verdi’s AĪda and Rigoletto. He has performed many roles in Soviet operas, including Oleg Koshevoi in Meitus’ Young Guard, Pavel Vlasov in Khrennikov’s Mother, and Ryleev in Shaporin’s Decembrists. Laptev’s concert repertoire includes art songs, Ukrainian and Russian folk songs, and Neapolitan songs. He has been awarded two orders.