Famous Russian opera singer Dmitry Khvorostovsky turns 40 - 16 October, 2002

Famous opera singer, People's Artist of Russia Dmitry Khvorostovsky turns 40 on Wednesday.

Khvorostovsky was born in Krasnoyarsk (Eastern Siberia). He graduated from a teachers' training college and the arts institute in that city.

In 1985-1990, Khvorostovsky was the soloist of the Krasnoyarsk opera and ballet theatre.

In 1989 Khvorostovsky won the World's Singer BBC contest in Cardiff (Great Britain) and became famous all over the world. The last of the popular Russian baritones possesses the most beautiful and exquisite voice, which can be heard today, New York Daily News wrote about him in 1990. Philips Classics recording company made an exclusive contract with Khvorostovsky and issued 19 albums with opera parts, Russian romances, folk songs and concert programmes.

The list of Khvorostovsky's awards and titles is really impressive: 1987 - the winner of the first prizes of the all-Russia vocal contest and all-Union Glinka contest; 1988 - the grand-prix at the contest in Toulouse; 1989 - the Best Voice title at the BBC contest.

In 1995 Khvorostovsky won the title of People's Artist of Russia.

Nowadays Dmitry Khvorostovsky and his wife Florence (Italian from Switzerland) live in London. The schedule of his tours is filled till 2007.

Unfortunately, Khvorostovsky is a rare guest in Moscow. He sings at the world's best opera theatres and concert halls - Wigmore-Hall, Carnegie-Hall, Covent-Garden, La Scala, Metropolitan-Opera and the Vienna Opera Theatre.