Наталья Тамара

Natalia Tamara (1873–1934) was a Russian singer (mezzo-soprano) who performed operetta and romances. She came to prominence in 1897 with a debut at the Buff Theatre in Saint Petersburg. Without any musical or theatrical education, Natalya had an outstanding natural talent, nobleness and great looks, which was important for an actress. Until 1918, she had been performing at various operetta theatres in Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev, Rostov-on-Don and other cities with Mikhail Vavich, Nikolay Monakhov, Nikolay Seversky and other prominent singers. Arkady Pokrass was her accompanist. Tamara became particularly known for 'gypsy romance' songs, which had experienced a revival in the beginning of the XIX century, and alongside with Anastasia Vyaltseva she is considered as one of the brightest performers of the era. The events of 1918 brought theatrical life to halt. Natalia Tamara continued performing in Saint Petersburg for a couple more years, but was never able to maintain her glorious lifestyle of a celebrity. Soviet officials were disapproving decadence at the time, and in 1929 romance was explicitly banned as a counter-revolutionary musical style. Just as quick as she rose to fame, Natalia Tamara was soon forgotten by the public. She died in 1934 in poverty and complete abandonment.