Maria Zankovetska in the role of "Tsvirkunka", 1892
Maria Kostiantynivna Adasovska[a] (Ukrainian: Марія Костянтинівна Адасовська; 4 August 1854 – 4 October 1934), better known under her pseudonym Maria Zankovetska (Ukrainian: Марія Заньковецька) was a Ukrainian theater actress. Some sources date her birth to 3 August 1860.
In 1922, Zankovetska became the first recipient of the People's Artist of Ukraine (People's Artist of Ukrainian SSR).
On May 11, 1875, Maria married Alexey Antonovich Khlystov, commander of the 5th Artillery Brigade of the 3rd Artillery Company, and moved to Bessarabia, where she met Mykola Sadovskyi.[3] Alexei was later transferred to Sveaborg (now Suomenlinna), and Maria began to study vocal music in nearby Helsinki, under the tutelage of the Hrimaly brothers.[4]
In 1876, she first appeared onstage in Nizhyn Theater. Her professional career began on 27 October 1882 at the Yelizavetgrad City Theater (Kropyvnytsky) under the management of Marko Kropyvnytsky.[5] Her first role was Natalka from the Kotlyarevsky play "Natalka Poltavka". Later Maria participated among the most popular and professional Ukrainian troupes of Marko Kropyvnytsky, Mykhailo Starytsky, Mykola Sadovsky, and Panas Saksahansky. Her stage nameZankovetska was derived from the name of the village of her birth. Her repertoire included more than 30 roles. A mezzo-soprano, she sang in Ukrainian folk songs.[6]
Zankovetska was an activist for the opening in Nizhyn of a permanent state theater. In 1918, she organized a people's theater "Ukrainian troupe under the direction of M. Zankovetska", where she played with such actors as Borys Romanytsky, Andriy Rotmyrov, and others. Several plays were set among which were "Natalka Poltavka", "Hetman Doroshenko", and "Aza the Gypsy". Recognizing her stage merits, in June 1918 the Hetman of UkrainePavlo Skoropadsky approved the adoption by the Council of Ministers of a resolution on the appointment of a lifetime state pension for Zankovetska.
In 1922, Ukraine triumphantly celebrated the 40th anniversary of Zankovetska's career. She was the first person in Ukraine to whom the government awarded the high title of the People's Artist of the Republic.[5]
Zankovetska died on 4 October 1934. She is buried at Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv.[7]
List of selected theatrical roles
1882 – Natalka ("Natalka Poltavka", Ivan Kotlyarevsky)
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