Stasiunas, Ionas Antaño

(in Lithuanian, Jonas Antaño Stasiünas). Born Sept. 26, 1919, in the village of Niciünai, in present-day Kupiski Raion. Soviet baritone. People’s Artist of the USSR (1964). Member of the CPSU since 1957.

In 1948, Stasiunas graduated from the Kaunas Conservatory, where he was a student of P. Oleka. He has been a soloist at the Lithuanian Theater of Opera and Ballet since 1941. His voice is distinguished by a wide range and a seamless transition between registers. Stasiunas is a master of subtle expression and character portrayal. His principal roles have included Margiris in Klóva’s Pilenai, the title role in Borodin’s Prince Igor, the title role in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov (State Prize of the USSR, 1951), the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Mazepa, lago in Verdi’s Otello, the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto, the King in Orffs The Prudent Woman, and Porgy in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

In 1962, Stasiunas joined the teaching staff of the Vilnius Conservatory; he was made docent at the conservatory in 1974. A deputy to the fourth convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR, he has been awarded the Order of Lenin and various medals.