Valentina Levko

Valentina Nikolayevna Levko, born on August 13, 1926, in Moscow, RSFSR, was a prominent opera and chamber singer known for her roles as a contralto and mezzo-soprano. Her career began with extensive training that led to her breakthrough as a soloist at the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR from 1960 to 1982. During this period, Levko released several notable albums, including Старинные Арии (1969), Русские Песни И Романсы (1970), and Русские Песни И Романсы (1971). Her contributions to Russian music were recognized with the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1969, and she was awarded the Order of Honor in 2002 for her extensive work in culture and art. Levko passed away on August 14, 2018, just one day after her 92nd birthday, following a prolonged illness.