Irina Arkhipova

Irina Konstantinovna Arkhipova (Russian: Ири́на Константи́новна Архи́пова) (2 January 1925 – 11 February 2010) was a Russian mezzo-soprano, and later contralto, opera singer. She sang leading roles first in Russia at the Sverdlovsk Opera and the Bolshoi Theater, and then throughout Europe and in the United States. Irina was born in Moscow. Before switching to voice, she studied architecture at the Moscow Architectural Institute, graduating in 1948.