Chaliapine was a base cantante. His histrionic ability amounted to a genius as substantial and unique as his singing. His mezzo voice was lauded by critics, and he sec it more often than full voice. His chief roles were Leoperello, Basilio, in "Barbiere de Seville." Don Qui-cotte, Khovanthina, Ivan the Terrible; Prince Igor, Boris Godunov and Mephistopheles, In the latter two roles it was generally conceded that Chaliapine brought _histrionic singing to its greatest glory.
In 1825, he became director of his own company and his own ideas were given free rein, Chaliapine was an admitted gourmet, He himself told as many stories of his Gargantuan appetite as his friends, and to the last he retained a love for the onion soup and black bread of his youth.
During the war he sang for the wounded in hospitals and was made an officer of the Legion of Honour.
He was known by millions for his
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