At the beginning of the 20th century , who was one of the world 's leading opera singers ?
A number of Russian opera singers rose to fame already in the 18th century , but it was the late 19th and the 20th centuries that saw the appearance of many world - renown , well - remembered and still popular soloists , including Leonid Sobinov , Galina Vishnevskaya and , of course , Feodor Chaliapin , the greatest bass of all time .