ɐlˈɔŋ wɪð hɪz fɹˈɛndli ɹˈaɪvəl, tˈɛnɚɹ ˈaɪvən kəzlˈʌvski, hiː wʌzðə lˈiːdɪŋ tˈɛnɚɹ æt ðə bˈɑːlʃɔɪ ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks.
Along with his friendly rival, tenor Ivan Kozlovsky, he was the leading tenor at the Bolshoi until 1956.