He was born in the USSR. He initially studied singing under Μ. Α. Yuryanov at the Saratov State Conservatory (until 1952) and continued at the Moscow State Conservatory under the bass-baritone Alexander Baturin (1958- 1963). In 1959 he made his professional debut at the Stanislawski und Nemirowitsch-Dantschenko Musiktheater in Moscow. He was distinguished at the International Vocalists’ Competition, Glinka (USSR, 1962). For four decades he interpreted a wide bass repertory of Russian, Soviet composers (Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Khrennikov,Kabalevsky, Rachmaninoff) as well as works of European composers. The comic operas hold a prominent position in his repertoire. He interpreted roles in works like Boris and the Priest [Katerina Ismailova], Boris and Varlaam [Boris Godunov], Gremin [Eugene Onegin], Farlaf [Ruslan and Lyudmila], Celio [The Love for Three Oranges], Barbarossa [La battaglia di Legnano], Ernesto [Il Pirata], Tonio [Pagliacci], Calchas [La belle Hélène], Dulcamara [L'elisir d'amore], Porgy [Porgy & Bess] etc. He also appeared in Klaipeda (Memel-Lithuania), in Minsk and in the Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theatre. Meanwhile he followed a successful career as an oratorios performer of German and Russian art songs (Lied) and later, mainly since 1990, he focused on the Russian folk song. After approximately 30 years of performing at the Stanislawski Music Theatre, he served as its director. He taught at the Moscow State Conservatory (1995-2013). He was granted the honorary title of the People’s Artist of the USSR (1990). He has recorded operas for the USSR recording company Melodiya. He worked with the GNO during the 1995/96 season, performing the role of Boris Timofeyevich Ismailov in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and Don Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia.