'Tutored by Ussatoff, Challapin's vyvoleo grew stronger and' more beautiful and ina few. months Ussatof Procured an engagement for him at the Tiis State Theatre. Here ho had a salary of £17 a month, The Italian Tru was the conductor and: from him Chaliapin received much ald.
'Travelling first class, Chalipin went to Petrograd in 1804. 'There he sang in a private company. In thi his "name first appeared Print, a critic observing that he sang "like' a bear with a bad cold." His role then was Dr, Miracle, in "Tales of Hoffman.
In 1895 he sang at a private concert at which a sister of Glinka, the composer, was present. She admired his voice and soon Challapin had contract with the Imperial Opera of the Mariensky at Petrograd. sang minor roles in Gounod's "Faust" and Bozet's "Carmer Glinka's "Russian and Ludmi Ineke of traditional mannerism won him. favour.
He did not tetum to the United States for sixteen years, and by that time he was the idol of many lands, His second return brought him instant recognition, Challapin's art now understood,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.