Semyon Stepanovich Gulak-Artemovski was a composer, playwright, opera artist.
Background
Semyon Stepanovich Gulak-Artemovski was born into a priest family. Semyon Stepanovich had and interesting situation with his last name. He was born as Gulak, however once he started to perform on the stage he became to be known as Artemovski, hence why he has double last name.
Education
Entirety of his studies lied within Kiev Seminary. During his study at Kiev Seminary Semyon was assigned to the bishop’s choir of Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kiev by Metropolitan Evgeni (Bolkhvitin).
Career
Since 1838 he was a part of Court Chapel, and since 1842 until 1864 he acted as a soloist of St. Petersburg’s opera troupe. For one year, since 1864, he had also been the soloist at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre.