Soprano Tamara Nizhnikova has died at 92.

A stalwart of the National Opera and Ballet of Belarus, the soprano was born in Samara on March 9, 1925, and went on to attend the Moscow Conservatory before joining what later became the National Opera and Ballet of Belarus. With the company she portrayed such roles as Rosina in “The Barber of Seville,” Martha in “The Tsar’s bride,” and Violetta in “La Traviata” among many others.

Prior to her great career as a soloist, she sang with a church choir and during the Great Patriotic War, she worked in a medical team where she helped the wounded.

Nizhnikova went on to perform until 1976 and went on to receive the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, and named a People’s Artist of the USSR. She later received the Order of Friendship of Peoples, and the Order of Francysk Skaryna and was awarded the UNESCO Medal of Victor Hugo among many other prestigious awards.

After retiring from the stage Nizhnikova dedicated her efforts to teaching for more than 40 years helping develop young singers.