Михаил Эпельбаум

1894-1957 Jewish singer and actor. He studied at home teachers, then in a private gymnasium and at the Warsaw Musical Institute. From 1911 he took part in the ethnographic expedition in the towns of Podolia and Volhynia, where he recorded samples of Jewish folk music. He performed a lot in the composition of Jewish theatrical (mainly musical-dramatic) collectives: in 1910 and 1912, in the troupe I.Korik (1876-1947) and A.Vainstein, in 1911 - in the company of S.Genfer (1874-1913), in 1913 and 1915-16. - in the collective of L. Rappel, in 1914-15. - A.Fishzon, in 1916-17. - N. Lipovsky (1874-1928). After the October Revolution, he performed for some time at the Russian Theater of Musical Comedy and Drama under the direction of IP Brandesko (Moscow), and worked with the outstanding Jewish artist Clara Jung on several occasions. The singer's strong voice (dramatic baritone) allowed him to perform opera arias. At the invitation of the Kiev Opera House, he repeatedly and with unchanging success fulfilled the role of Demon in the opera of the same name by Anton Rubinstein. Epelbaum played in dramatic plays, especially the role of De Silva in "Uriel Acosta" by K. Gutskov. However, the greatest glory of the singer was the fulfillment of Jewish songs on the stage. Epelbaum's repertoire was unusually wide and included songs and ballads recorded by Epelbaum during ethnographic expeditions. In 1927-33 years. Epelbaum toured with a concert program in Europe, America, Africa; the performing skill of the "Jewish Chaliapin" was widely recognized in various circles. On his return from the tour, Epelbaum settled in Leningrad (see St. Petersburg), worked at the Theater of Musical Comedy, in the regional philharmonic society, in Lengosestrad, toured the cities of the Soviet Union; his work was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR. In the years 1941-45. Epelbaum lived in evacuation in Siberia, worked in the Novosibirsk Concert Association; After the war he returned to Leningrad, performed with concerts of Jewish songs in various cities of the Soviet Union. In 1949, during the defeat of Jewish culture, he was arrested and sentenced to ten years in prison. His wife Rosalia Apelbaum was also convicted. Rehabilitated in 1954, returned to Leningrad. Although the honorary title of the artist was returned, the Ministry of Culture of the RSFSR did not allow the Lenkontsert to accept Epelbaum for permanent work, allowing only speeches on a contractual basis. The repertoire of the Jewish song, with which the singer performed, was subjected to severe censorship; often he was not allowed to speak only with the "Jewish" program, prescribing in the first section of the concert to perform Russian songs. However, in the conditions of Khrushchev's "thaw", Epelbaum triumphantly traveled with Jewish songs to many cities of Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic States.