Karlashov (Karlash, Karlashiv, Chernomorets) Mykola Kyrylovych (born 4 May 1881, Odesa - 17 January 1948, New York) was a Ukrainian actor and singer (baritone, bass), director, conductor. He is known for his performances at the Kyiv and Tiflis operas, the Mykola Sadovsky Theatre. Since 1918, he has been in exile.
Patronymic: in some sources "Oleksandrovych", in others - "Kyrylovych"
Mykola Karlashov (Karlash) was born on 4 May 1881 in Odesa.
He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering of the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, but never started working in his speciality because he was interested in singing as a student. After graduation, he was invited to the Tiflis Opera in 1907, where he performed until 1908. 1908-1910 - performed in Russia.
From 1910 - at the Mykola Sadovsky Theatre in Kyiv. He performed there under the stage name Chernomorets. Probably, this was due to the fact that he was especially successful there in the role of Chornomorets in the opera "Branka Roksoliana" by D. Sichynskyi, as well as his Odesa origin. During these years, he also often performed concert programmes, performing folk songs and works by Ukrainian composers.
1913-1917 - soloist of the Kyiv Opera.
In 1918, together with Mariia Mashyr, he organised a Ukrainian theatre in Vladivostok. They also performed in Khabarovsk, Usuriysk, and Harbin. "Arkas's Catherine was staged "15 times in a row. Zelenyi Klyn appreciated Ukrainian opera."
In 1922, as part of Fedorov's opera company, he went on tour to the United States. In 1924, he worked in Chicago, where, together with Dmytro Atamanets, he staged S. Hulak-Artemovsky's Cossack Beyond the Danube on 3 April 1924. He performed the role of Karas himself.
At the end of 1924, Mykola settled in New York, where he performed in the troupe of the Russian theatre of David Medov. "The artist's wonderful voice and artistic performance contribute to his popularity among opera fans," the newspaper Svoboda noted about his debut in this company.
Later, he became associated with the Ukrainian Theatre, founded by Yulia Shustakevych and Myron Korykora at the Ukrainian People's House in New York, where he performed in Ukrainian operas and dramatic performances. On 12 December 1925, he performed in the comedy Fooled by M. Kropyvnytskyi, on 13 December - in the household history drama Marusya Bohuslavka by M. Starytskyi, on 20 December - in the drama Gandzya, on 27 December - in Burlak by I. Karpenko-Kary, and on 14 February 1926 - in Oh, Don't Go, Hrytsia by M. Starytskyi, where he was both director and conductor. There is information about him as a conductor in the announcement: "The Ukrainian People's House calls upon all its members, especially national societies, fathers and mothers, to lend their influence to the establishment of a national choir in New York to give it artistic direction. The directorate invited the famous artist, opera singer and conductor Mykola Karlash to lead the choir."
In 1927-1928, Mykola Karlash headed the theatre at the Ukrainian People's House for a while.
As a director with the Dnipro company, Mykola Karlash staged the opera "Black Sea Fleet" by Mykola Lysenko. On 15 March 1931, Mykola Karlash staged S. Hulak-Artemovskyi's Cossack Beyond the Danube with great success in the hall of the Ukrainian National House. "Not only New York, but the whole of America has never seen such a selection of performers as we had this time. And to tell the truth, even at home, in Ukraine, we have never seen such a fine selection of vocal forces," the Svoboda newspaper wrote about this performance on 23 March 1931.
"Since 1925, M. Karlash has been a regular participant in Shevchenko's concerts in various cities and their environs. One can only marvel at the singer's activities and capabilities. He was simply a universal artist. Wherever Mykola Karlash was, as a true Odesa resident, he had a lot of friends and acquaintances - not only among musicians, but also among sports masters. One of the closest was the famous Ukrainian wrestler Ivan Piddubnyi, with whom they often met in New York. On Sunday, 26 April 1926, in honour of his friend, the singer organised a big concert at Tavern Hall... Fyodor Chaliapin was present as a guest at this concert."
Mykola Karlash often performed in the Ukrainian Cathedral of St. George in New York. In 1936, he performed the role of Kochubey in Tchaikovsky's opera Mazepa, staged by Dmytro Chutro, choreographer of the Philadelphia Opera. On 19 December 1937, the Ukrainian People's House hosted a performance of Taras Shevchenko's Nazar Stodolya, where Mykola Karlash played Khoma.
In 1941, Mykola became a US citizen. His last years of life were spent in New York. There, Mykola Karlash opened a music studio and was engaged in private practice. He died there on 17 January 1948.
Parties and roles
At the Sadovsky Theatre
Karas (The Cossack Beyond the Danube by S. Hulak-Artemovsky)
Zeus ("Aeneid" by Mykola Lysenko, 1910) - first performer
Elected (Natalka Poltavka by M. Lysenko)
Mr Chairman ("The Slippers" by P. Tchaikovsky)
Father ("Katerina" by M. Arkas)
Chernomorets ("Roksolana's Prisoner" by D. Sichynsky, 1912)
In the Kyiv Opera
King of Egypt (Aida by G. Verdi)
Comte de Griet (Manon by J. Massenet)
Ketsal (The Sold Bride by B. Smetana).
IN THE USA
Kochubey (Mazepa by P. Tchaikovsky, 1936)
Khoma (Nazar Stodolya by Taras Shevchenko, 1937)
Recordings of songs
In 1912, he recorded the songs "A Man Carries a Nightingale", "Oh, I Weigh, I Weigh", "Over the Field Goes" and the famous song "Oh, Dnipro, Dnipro" by Mykola Lysenko at the Kyiv studio "Extraphon".
In 1922, in the USA, he recorded at the Victor studio: "Oh, I'm Weighing, I'm Weighing", "Roasted Pig", etc.
