Georg Ots

Georg Ots

Born: January 21, 1920
Died: September 5, 1975
Georg Ots (March 21, 1920 – September 5, 1975) was an Estonian singer, actor and People's Artist of the USSR (1960).

Before studying singing with the Estonian baritone Aleksander Rahnel in Yaroslavl in the rear of the Eastern Front, where a cultural center for evacuated Estonians had been established, Ots was a young Navy Officer who had escaped a sinking ship and was taken prisoner in Russia. He was released a year later, and on his return home, he auditioned for a place at the conservatory in Tallinn. At the same time, he became a member of the chorus at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn. His solo opera debut was a small part in Eugene Onegin (1944). He soon became one of the most revered singers in Estonia and Finland and was also admired and beloved across Russia.

Ots often performed in many major opera houses of the former Soviet Union, being especially cherished at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. His repertoire included the roles of Eugene Onegin, Yeletzky, Escamillo, Renato, Don Giovanni, Papageno, Rigoletto, Iago, Porgy, Figaro, and the title role in Kabalevsky's Colas Breugnon. Ots sang in Estonian, Russian, Finnish, German, Italian and French, and was fluent in all six languages. Ots's most famous role, which he is often identified with, was the leading character in Anton Rubinstein's opera The Demon. The libretto of The Demon is based on Mikhail Lermontov's famous epic poem, once banned because of its plotline which involves a misalliance between a dark angel and a Georgian princess. Georg Ots' interpretation of the angel mesmerized audiences and received rapturous reviews, making Lermontov's controversial poem even more famous.

The popularity of Ots culminated in 1958 with the release of the Lenfilm Studios musical Soviet film Mister X, based on Imre Kalman's operetta Die Zirkusprinzessin. Ots also played a leading role in Between Three Plagues, a film based on a historical novel by Jaan Kross which illuminates the life of Balthasar Russow, a distinguished Estonian writer and chronicler. Ots loved to perform songs by Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky, and several other Russian composers, and was also a devoted interpreter of Estonian folk songs. His voice could be heard on radio and TV all over the Soviet Union, and all his records sold out almost immediately.

He also performed successfully in various European countries. After his death in 1975 caused by a brain tumor, the Tallinn Music School was named after him (now Georg Otsa nimeline Tallinna Muusikakool). In 1997, Russian scientists gave his name to a newly discovered minor planet, 3738 Ots (1977 QA1). He was married three times (to Margot Ots (née Laane, since 1950 Heinsoo), Asta Ots (Saar), and Ilona Ots (Noor) respectively) and had two daughters, a son (daughter Ülle Malken (Ots) and son Ülo Ots with Asta Ots, and daughter Mariann Randmaa (Ots) with Ilona Ots), and two adopted sons (Hendrik Ots and Jüri Ots).

In November 2005, a musical Georg based on the life of Georg Ots was premiered in Tallinn, and on 5 October 2007, Georg, a film based on his life was released.

Movies for Georg Ots...

Bariton frakis
Title: Bariton frakis
Released: February 24, 2023
Type: Movie
The film highlights the two extremes of extraordinary singer Georg Ots - his extreme modesty about his own abilities and the often exaggerated, sometimes hyperbolic opinions of others. Throughout the film, these two aspects come together to form an understanding of the personality being portrayed.
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Between Three Plagues
Title: Between Three Plagues
Character: Balthasar Russow
Released: November 14, 1970
Type: Movie
The story of Balthasar Russow, an Estonian pastor from the 16th century, his life and life's work - writing The Chronicle of Livonia.
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New Year's Abduction
Title: New Year's Abduction
Released: January 13, 1970
Type: Movie
The fire department is preparing for the New Year. Three activists of amateur performances decide to kidnap professional artists for a New Year's concert. A police captain investigates the kidnapping and listens to complaints from the “unkidnapped” artists.
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When the Song Does Not End...
Title: When the Song Does Not End...
Released: October 13, 1965
Type: Movie
A combination of performances by masters of their arts, this film takes place during the Leningradskoye Leto – the Leningrad "White Nights" annual summer musical festival, featuring music stars, young opera singers, ballet, pop, circus, and amateur artists. Reporters Kostya and Bob are rushing everywhere trying to document the entire festival. Beautiful young singer Svetlana is pursued throughout the festive events by a hopelessly shy police lieutenant, whose unexpected infatuation leaves him unable to speak, but gives him a beautiful baritone voice.
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Возвращённая музыка
Title: Возвращённая музыка
Released: April 20, 1965
Type: Movie
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Meeting by Chance
Title: Meeting by Chance
Character: Laigo
Released: July 17, 1961
Type: Movie
Rein is a successful singer but he and his group have a reason to worry – because of their worn-out repertoire their popularity is in danger. Philharmonic is already searching for new talents. When Rein hears a wonderful soprano voice from the concert hall, he will offer a remarkable young lady - whom he considers to be the owner of the voice - the opportunity to perform. Rein has no idea that actually the voice belongs to another girl whom he has once met in a quite extraordinary situation and who has introduced Rein's new song to the whole town.
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В этот праздничный вечер
Title: В этот праздничный вечер
Released: May 1, 1959
Type: Movie
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Mister X
Title: Mister X
Character: Mister X
Released: May 2, 1958
Type: Movie
A mysterious man under the name Mister X performs in the circus, playing violin on a chair suspended in the air by ropes. His breathtakingly sad melodies reflect his internal turmoil - he's in love with a noble lady and this relationship is frowned upon in their society.
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Light over Koordi
Title: Light over Koordi
Character: Runge
Released: August 27, 1951
Type: Movie
When Paul Runge, a soldier of the Red Army, returns home to Koordi after the war, he sees that, despite the new regime, life in Koordi hasn't changed. It's still a abandoned, uncultured Estonian village, where rich landlords still oppress the population. Runge starts talking about founding a kolkhoze.