Tchaikovsky
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Bogomir Korsov (1843–1920) as Mazepa in 1884

Bogomir Korsov

Russian baritone and opera artist of German descent (b. 19 February/3 March 1843 in Saint Petersburg; d. 1920 in Tbilisi), born Gottfried Göring (Готтфрид Гëринг), but known onstage as Bogomir Bogomirovich Korsov (Богомир Богомирович Корсов, Bogomir Bogomirovič Korsov).

After studying in Saint Petersburg with Luigi Piccioli, Korsov made his stage debut in Turin in 1868. From 1869 he was a member of the Mariinskii Theatre company in the Russian capital, moving to the Bol'shoi in Moscow the following year, where he remained until 1905. In Moscow he premiered the roles of Viaz'minskii in The Oprichnik (1878) and the title role in Mazepa (1884) [pictured right]—Tchaikovsky supplying additional numbers in both operas specially at Korsov's request—as well as the Devil in Cherevichki (1887), and Tomskii in The Queen of Spades (1890).

Tchaikovsky's works dedicated to Bogomir Korsov:

• No Response, Or Word, Or Greeting—No. 5 of the Six Romances, Op. 28 (1875)
• On the Golden Cornfields—No. 2 of the Six Romances, Op. 57 (1884)

Correspodence with Bogomir Korsov:

• 22 letters from Tchaikovsky to Bogomir Korsov have survived, dating from 1874 to 1891.