Ciprijonas Petrauskas, known professionally as Kipras Petrauskas, built a career as an operatic tenor across the Russian Empire, Lithuania, and the Soviet Union. Over the course of his professional tenure, he created approximately 80 distinct roles and became a figure foundational to the development of the national opera institution in Lithuania.
Musical Education and Performance
Born in 1885 in Ceikiniai, Petrauskas underwent formal musical training at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. His vocal work was documented through various international recording contracts, starting with Vox in Berlin in 1922. He subsequently produced recordings for Odeon in 1926 and 1928, followed by a Columbia session in Vilnius around 1933. Beyond the stage, he held a teaching position at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
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Petrauskas integrated his artistic life with the civic affairs of his home country. In 1937, he interrupted a performance at the State Theatre in Kaunas to broadcast the victory of the Lithuania men's national basketball team in the EuroBasket 1937, leading the audience in a collective performance of the national anthem. His political profile included service as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union.
Holocaust Rescue and Recognition
In 1942, Petrauskas and his wife, Elena Žalinkevičaitė-Petrauskienė, took in a Jewish infant named Dana Pomeranz. To facilitate the girl's concealment, the couple relocated to a rural Lithuanian village before moving through Austria and Germany. Upon their return to Lithuania in 1947, they successfully reunited the child with her biological parents. In 1999, Yad Vashem recognized the couple as Righteous Among the Nations for their efforts.
Honors and Legacy
Throughout his life, Petrauskas received numerous state decorations, including the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, and the Stalin Prize. He was also honored with the Grand Cross, the Commander's Grand Cross, and the Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. He died in 1968 and is buried at Rasos Cemetery in Vilnius.
Fast facts
- Born: 1885, Ceikiniai
- Died: 1968, Vilnius
- Education: Saint Petersburg Conservatory
- Roles created: Approximately 80
- Notable honor: Righteous Among the Nations
- Burial site: Rasos Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What was the significance of the 1937 Kaunas performance?
Petrauskas interrupted his opera performance to announce the victory of the Lithuania men's national basketball team in the EuroBasket 1937.
How was Petrauskas recognized for his wartime actions?
In 1999, he and his wife were named Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem for hiding a Jewish child named Dana Pomeranz.
Achievements
- Stalin Prize
- Order of Lenin
- Order of the Red Banner of Labour
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
- Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
- Worked as opera singer and politician
- Educated at Saint Petersburg Conservatory
