On Jan. 10 2024, Tamara Andreyevna Milashkina died at the age of 89.

Born on Sept. 13, 1934, in Astrakhan, Milashkina studied with Elena Katulskaya and became a member of the Bolshoi Opera in 1958.

She would remain with the company until 1989 and would be featured in numerous leading roles. She would also tour with the company to such venues as the Metropolitan Opera in 1975.

Outside of Russia, Milashkina appeared at the Teatro alla Scala and performed such operas as “La battaglia di Legnano,” “The Queen of Spades,” “War and Peace,” “Eugene Onegin,” and “Prince Igor.” She also toured extensively through Europe and made numerous recordings including “Tosca,” “Eugene Onegin,” and “The Queen of Spades” opposite her husband, tenor Vladimir Atlantov and conductor Mark Ermler.

The soprano received numerous awards throughout her career including the People’s Artist of the USSR.