Born in Zhitomir in the Ukraine, Alexander Kipnis started his career in music by studying conducting at the Warsaw Conservatory, and then serving as a bandmaster in the Russian army. Later, in Berlin, he studied singing with Ernst Grenzebach. Only two years after his singing début in Hamburg he became leading bass at the Berlin Charlottenberg (later Stadtische) Opera and then at the State Opera.
After this he sang at most of the world's leading opera houses. In 1936, he sang Sarastro (in MozartΓÇÖs The Magic Flute) at Glyndebourne and the following year repeated the r├┤le under Toscanini at Salzburg. As well as Wagner and Mozart bass parts, he sang the title r├┤le in MoussorgskyΓÇÖs Boris Godounov and Baron Ochs (in R.StraussΓÇÖs Der Rosenkavalier) with particular distinction, as well as a number of parts in the Italian repertory.
With one of the most majestic and smoothly produced bass voices of the century, its flexibility allowed him to excel also in Lieder. He became an American citizen and after his retirement taught singing in New York. He died in Westport, Connecticut in 1978, leaving us a famous son, the harpsichordist, Igor Kipnis.
