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The Most Famous

SINGERS from Ukraine

This page contains a list of the greatest Ukrainian Singers. The pantheon dataset contains 3,528 Singers, 41 of which were born in Ukraine. This makes Ukraine the birth place of the 15th most number of Singers behind Norway and Netherlands.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Ukrainian Singers of all time. This list of famous Ukrainian Singers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Ukrainian Singers.

1. Anatoliy Solovianenko (1932 - 1999)

With an HPI of 61.72, Anatoliy Solovianenko is the most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 117 different languages on wikipedia.

Anatoliy Solovianenko (sometime transliterated as Anatolii Solovyanenko; Ukrainian: Анатолій Борисович Солов'яненко; Russian: Анатолий Борисович Соловья́ненко; 25 September 1932 – 29 July 1999) was a Ukrainian operatic tenor, People's Artist of the USSR (1975), People's Artist of Ukraine, and State Taras Shevchenko prize-winner.He was born into a mining family in Donetsk and graduated from Donetsk Polytechnic Institute in 1954. He also studied singing with Alexander Korobeichenko from 1950. Solovianenko began his career in Donetsk, where there is now a monument in his memory. He made twelve performances at the Metropolitan Opera in Kyiv, then graduated from Kyiv Conservatory in 1978. For 30 years, he was soloist at the Taras Shevchenko National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Kyiv, and performed at Expo 67 in Montreal. During the 1977–78 season, Solovianenko performed as a soloist at the New York Metropolitan Opera. He also performed as soloist for the Alexandrov Ensemble during its UK tour 1988, singing "Kalinka" and other songs. He recorded 18 LPs of arias, romances and songs.

2. Sofia Rotaru (1947 - )

With an HPI of 61.50, Sofia Rotaru is the 2nd most famous Ukrainian Singer. Her biography has been translated into 71 different languages.

Sofiia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru (née Rotaru; Ukrainian: Софі́я Миха́йлівна Рота́ру [soˈfijɐ roˈtɑrʊ]; Russian: Софи́я Миха́йловна Рота́ру; born 7 August 1947), known simply as Sofia Rotaru, is a Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian origin. Rotaru, nicknamed "Bukovinsky Solovey" ("the Nightingale from Bukovina"), emerged in 1966 as a pop folk star in the movie Solovei iz sela Marshyntsi (Nightingale from Marshyntsi) in the Romanian and Ukrainian-speaking world after her manager and future husband Anatoliy Yevdokymenko made her change her music style from folk to pop music with Chervona Ruta. In 1972, she released the multilingual album Sofia Rotaru, re-released three times and covered by numerous singers, establishing herself as a viable pop artist in the countries of the former Soviet Union. She first gained international recognition after participating in 1968 in the International Youth Song Festival in Bulgaria and winning first prize at the Golden Orpheus in 1973 and second prize in the category of Polish songs at the Sopot International Song Festival in 1974. In the former USSR her career was marked by her stage success and numerous controversies. She has been acknowledged by the Kyiv Patriarchate.Rotaru has been performing for more than 40 years, and topped the Moscow airplay with "Ya nazovu planetu imenem tvoim" in 2008.She reported the highest income of all celebrities in Ukraine in 2008 and 2010.Her repertoire consists of more than 40 albums and 400 songs recorded in many languages. She has received awards, deemed a Meritorious Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, Laureate of the Young Communist League Prize, Hero of Moldova, and Cavalier of the Republican Order of Moldova. In August 2002 former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and President of Russia Vladimir Putin gave awards to Sofia Rotaru for her 55th birthday, bestowing upon her the high rank of the Hero of Ukraine for her "outstanding personal merits in the sphere of art", and the Russian order "For merits before the Nation", respectively.Rotaru's official surname is Yevdokymenko-Rotaru (Ukrainian: Євдокименко-Ротару). Yevdokymenko was the surname of her late husband. Yalta is her main residence, although she also has homes in Moscow, Kyiv, and Baden-Baden.

3. Alexander Vertinsky (1889 - 1957)

With an HPI of 56.96, Alexander Vertinsky is the 3rd most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Alexander Nikolayevich Vertinsky Russian: Александр Николаевич Вертинский, March 20 [O.S. March 8] 1889 – May 21, 1957) was a Russian and Soviet artist, poet, singer, composer, cabaret artist and actor who exerted seminal influence on the Russian tradition of artistic singing.

4. Joseph Kobzon (1937 - 2018)

With an HPI of 56.49, Joseph Kobzon is the 4th most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 33 different languages.

Iosif (Joseph) Davydovich Kobzon (Russian: Ио́сиф Давы́дович Кобзо́н; 11 September 1937 – 30 August 2018) was a Russian singer, known for his crooner style.

5. Ruslana (1973 - )

With an HPI of 55.03, Ruslana is the 5th most famous Ukrainian Singer. Her biography has been translated into 66 different languages.

Ruslana Stepanivna Lyzhychko (Ukrainian: Руслана Степанівна Лижичко, IPA: [rʊsˈlɑnɐ steˈpɑn⁽ʲ⁾iu̯nɐ lɪˈʒɪtʃko]; born 24 May 1973), known mononymously as Ruslana, is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, actress, activist, and former politician. She is a World Music Award and Eurovision Song Contest winning recording artist, holding the title of People's Artist of Ukraine. She is also a former MP serving as deputy in the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) for the Our Ukraine Party. Ruslana was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Ukraine in 2004–2005. She is recognized as the most successful Ukrainian female solo artist internationally and was included in the top 10 most influential women of 2013 by the Forbes magazine. The U.S. Secretary of State honored her with the International Women of Courage Award in March, 2014. She has been named an honorary citizen of her hometown Lviv and was nominated to receive the title Hero of Ukraine.She is a singer, songwriter, producer, musical conductor, multi-instrumentalist, dancer, voice actress and social activist. She writes, composes and produces her own songs and music videos. Since 28 December 1995 she has been married to Oleksandr Ksenofontov, a Ukrainian record producer. Together they have run the company Luxen Studio since 1993, producing radio and film trailers.Ruslana was the first artist from the former Soviet Union to officially receive a platinum disc, her Dyki tantsi album selling more than 170,000 copies in the first 100 days after its release. This album is the best selling Ukrainian album to date, together with its English version, more than 500,000 copies being sold solely in Ukraine.She won the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Wild Dances" receiving 280 points, which at that time was a record of points. Following her victory, she rose to fame in Europe and became one of the biggest pop stars from the Eastern part of the continent. Her winning song "Wild Dances" dominated the European charts for 97 weeks peaking at number one in Belgium for 10 consecutive weeks. Her Eurovision winning song was included on the official compilation album called The Very Best of Eurovision celebrating the 60th anniversary of the contest.Her repertoire includes songs performed mainly in Ukrainian and English, but she also recorded cover versions in Spanish and Latin languages.

6. Joseph Schmidt (1904 - 1942)

With an HPI of 52.84, Joseph Schmidt is the 6th most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Joseph Schmidt (4 March 1904 – 16 November 1942) was an Austro-Hungarian and Romanian Jewish tenor.

7. Leonid Utyosov (1895 - 1982)

With an HPI of 51.38, Leonid Utyosov is the 7th most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Leonid Osipovich Utesov, also spelled Utyosov or Utiosov, born Lazar (Leyzer) Iosifovich Vaysbeyn or Weissbein (22 March [O.S. 10 March] 1895, Odessa – 9 March 1982, Moscow), was a famous Soviet estrada singer, and comic actor, who became the first pop singer to be awarded the prestigious title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1965.

8. Verka Serduchka (1973 - )

With an HPI of 49.76, Verka Serduchka is the 8th most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 40 different languages.

Andriy Mykailovych Danylko (Ukrainian: Андрі́й Миха́йлович Дани́лко; born 2 October 1973), better known as his drag persona Verka Serduchka (Ukrainian: Вє́рка Сердю́чка, IPA: [ˈwjɛrkɐ serˈdʲutʃkɐ]; Russian: Ве́рка Сердю́чка, IPA: [ˈvʲerkə sʲɪrˈdʲʉtɕkə]), is a Ukrainian comedian, actor, and singer. He represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 as Verka with the song "Dancing Lasha Tumbai", finishing in second place. He has sold over 600,000 records. He has appeared in films, most notably a cameo as Verka in the American comedy film Spy (2015).

9. Yaroslav Yevdokimov (1946 - )

With an HPI of 49.45, Yaroslav Yevdokimov is the 9th most famous Ukrainian Singer. His biography has been translated into 26 different languages.

Yaroslav Olexandrovych Yevdokimov (Ukrainian: Ярослав Олександрович Евдокимов), born 22 November 1946) is a baritone, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, and People's Artist of the Belarus.

10. Viorica Ursuleac (1894 - 1985)

With an HPI of 49.41, Viorica Ursuleac is the 10th most famous Ukrainian Singer. Her biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Viorica Ursuleac (26 March 1894 – 22 October 1985) was a Romanian operatic dramatic soprano. Viorica Ursuleac was born the daughter of a Greek Orthodox archdeacon, in Chernivtsi, which is now in Ukraine. Following training in Vienna, she made her operatic debut in Zagreb (Agram), as Charlotte in Massenet's Werther, in 1922. The soprano then appeared at the Vienna Volksoper (1924–26), Frankfurt Opera (1926–30), Vienna State Opera (1930–35), Berlin State Opera (1935–37), and Bavarian State Opera (1937–44). She married the Austrian conductor Clemens Krauss in Frankfurt during her time there. She was Richard Strauss's favorite soprano, and he called her die treueste aller Treuen ("the most faithful of all the faithful"). She sang in the world premieres of four of his operas: Arabella (1933), Friedenstag (which was dedicated to Ursuleac and Krauss, 1938), Capriccio (1942), and the public dress-rehearsal of Die Liebe der Danae (1944). She appeared at the Salzburg Festival (1930–34 and 1942–43) and in one season at Covent Garden (1934) where she sang in the first performances in England of Jaromír Weinberger's Schwanda the Bagpiper and Arabella (her favorite role). She also appeared as Desdemona in Verdi's Otello at the Royal Opera, with Lauritz Melchior in the name part, and Sir Thomas Beecham conducting. Ursuleac sang at La Scala in Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten (as the Empress), and Elektra (as Chrysothemis), Mozart's Così fan tutte, and Wagner's Die Walküre (as Sieglinde). Her only American appearances were at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, as Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, opposite Kirsten Flagstad, in 1948. Also in her repertory were the Countess Almaviva (The Marriage of Figaro), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Leonore (Fidelio), Senta (Der fliegende Holländer, with Hans Hotter), Amelia Grimaldi (Simon Boccanegra), Amelia (Un ballo in maschera), Leonora (La forza del destino), Élisabeth de Valois (Don Carlos), Tosca, Minnie (La fanciulla del West), Suor Angelica (opposite Luise Willer), Turandot (opposite Erna Berger's Liù), Der Rosenkavalier, Ariadne auf Naxos (first as the Composer, then as Ariadne), Die ägyptische Helena, etc. She was awarded the title of an Austrian Kammersängerin in 1934, a Prussian Kammersängerin in 1935. She gave her farewell in 1953 in Wiesbaden in Der Rosenkavalier. She was appointed professor at the Salzburg Mozarteum in 1964. The soprano recorded for Deutsche Grammophon in 1933, 1936, and 1943, with excerpts from Arabella, Le nozze di Figaro, Tosca, Turandot, Der Rosenkavalier, Il trovatore, and Capriccio, as well as two Lieder of Strauss. She was included in Volume III of EMI's The Record of Singing, in an excerpt from Arabella (1933). Ursuleac's voice was not of great beauty, at least as recorded, but she was reckoned a great musician and actress. In the words of one colleague, the soprano Hildegard Ranczak, "Although she had a lovely, facile top, I was constantly amazed at the two hours' vocalizing she went through before each performance. Hers was, in my opinion, a marvelously constructed, not really natural voice which she used with uncanny intelligence".In the 1930s Ursuleac and her husband were involved in helping Jews escape from Germany. After befriending British opera fans, the novelist Ida Cook and her sister Louise Cook, they instigated their rescue operation which started after Ursuleac asked the Cooks to assist a Jewish friend. Krauss gave cover to their smuggling operation and Munich Opera House shows were arranged around the times and cities that the Cooks needed to make contact with escapees. At least 29 Jews were saved by this operation. Ursuleac died at the age of ninety-one in the village of Ehrwald in Tyrol where she had resided since before the death in 1954 of her husband, Clemens Krauss. Ursuleac is interviewed on the 1984 documentary, Richard Strauss Remembered, narrated by Sir John Gielgud.

People

Pantheon has 41 people classified as singers born between 1873 and 2002. Of these 41, 30 (73.17%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living singers include Sofia Rotaru, Ruslana, and Verka Serduchka. The most famous deceased singers include Anatoliy Solovianenko, Alexander Vertinsky, and Joseph Kobzon. As of April 2022, 10 new singers have been added to Pantheon including Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Antonina Nezhdanova, and Hanka Bielicka.