Maria Nikolaevna Mordasova was a Russian singer, known for her renditions of folk song and chastushkas.
Background
Maria Nikolaevna Mordasova (nee Yarkina) was born on February 1, 1915 in Nizhnyaya Mazovka, Tambov region, Russian Federation. She was one of several children in a peasant family. Her mother, Praskovia Prokofievna, was an acclaimed local singer.
Education
Maria Nikolaevna Mordasova performed in the school choir and in the village club. Even as a schoolchild, she worked as a milkmaid. After finishing school, she joined an amateur theatrical group in Tambov.
Career
Maria Nikolaevna moved to Voronezh to work in a textile factory. In the winter of 1942-1943, the Voronezh Russian Folk Chorus was established, of which she was one of the first members. Until 1972, she was its soloist. She began to compile Chastushkas, fast-paced traditional Russian songs. She composed nearly 300 chastushkas as well. A performer of outstanding ability, she became very popular in the region.
Following World War II, Maria Nikolaevn began to tour the Soviet Union. In 1972, she joined the Voronezh Regional Philharmonic, leading the choral ensemble. Maria Nikolaevna retired from singing in 1982 and began to write her memoirs. But retirement did not suit her and she fell into depression. When her husband fell seriously ill and into a coma, she suffered a nervous breakdown.
Maria Nikolaevna Mordasova died in Voronezh on 25 September 1997, and was interred in the Kominternovsk cemetery in the same town.
Connections
Before the Second World War, Maria Nikolaevna was married and widowed. Having taken her husband's surname, she would henceforth be called Maria Mordasova. In 1945, she married the Voronezh chorus' accordionist, I.M. Rudenko. The marriage was a personal and professional success.