Moscow-born Russian baritone Vladimir Redkin passed away on May 12.

Redkin enjoyed a long and successful career at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, where he sang most of his artistic life.

He kicked off his studies at the Moscow State Conservatory, under the tutelage of Professor Zurab Sotkilava before eventually becoming a soloist with the Bolshoi Theater Opera Company.

A winner of the Bici Verdiani International Vocal Contest Diploma, in Busseto, Italy, his international career began at the Teatro alla Scala and he quickly became a major international figure, appearing at such major companies as the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera of Scotland, the Dublin Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Municipal Theater of Santiago de Chile, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the National Opera of Lorraine, the Hamburg State Opera, the Austin Lyric Opera, the New Israel Opera, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center.

He was best known for roles in such operas as “Il Barbiere di Siviglia,” “The Maid of Orleans,” “Rigoletto,” “Tosca,” “Nabucco” and “The Gambler,” among others.

In addition to career as a singer, Redkin worked in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts From Lomonosov Moscow State University, as a singing teacher.