Arthur Cavara (Artūrs Priednieks Cavara) (Tenor) (Libau 1901 – Gulfport, Florida 1979)

His real name was Artūrs Vilhelms Priednieks. Son of a worker, since 1924 he sang at the theatrical choir of Libau, where he also took over smaller solo parts. From 1927-31 he studied singing in Berlin, from 1935-37 in Vienna. He changed his name to “Cavara” in honor of his favorite role, Cavaradossi. He began his career in the 1928-29 season appearing at the opera houses of Barmen and Elberfeld. Then sang in the 1929-32 seasons at the Berlin State Opera, from 1932-33 at the The Deutsche Oper Berlin. In the 1935-36 seasons he performed at the Vienna State Opera. From 1936-39 he appeared at the opera house of Graz, at the same time made guest appearances at the Vienna Volksoper. In 1935 he appeared at the opera house of Vienna in the premiere of the operetta ‘’Dschainah’’ of Paul Abraham. In 1939 in Grazhe sang in the premiere of the opera ‘’Gudrun’’ of Ludwig Roselius. In  the 1929-31 seasons he had big success at the Berlin Kroll Opera performing as Hoffmann in ''Hoffmanns Erzählungen'', Hans in Smetana's ''Verkaufter Braut'', Duke in ''Rigoletto'', Almaviva in ''Barbiere di Siviglia'', Gonzalve in ''L'Heure espagnole'' of Ravel, also in the premiere of the opera ''Neues vom Tage'' of Paul Hindemith (8. 6. 1929) and in the première of Janác|veks' ''Aus einem Totenhaus''. Since 1931 he also appeared at the Latvian National Opera in Riga with great success. He appeared there  as Alvaro in Verdi's ''Forza del destino'' (1931), Faust in Gounod's ''Faust'' (1932), Nadir in ''Pêcheurs de perles'' (1933) and in 1938 as Radames in ''Aida'' opposite known Latvian soprano Alida Vane in the title role. In the 1933-34 seasons he was engaged by the municipal theatre of Zurich, where on 14. 10. 1933 he took part in the premiere of the opera ''Der Kreidekreis'' of A. Zemlinsky. He also made guest appearance at the Grand Théâtre of Geneva. By the end of the World War IIhe went to Germanyand performed as a concert singer. Then he emigrated to the USA, where gave a recitals and later was a respected pedagogue.

Chronology of some appearances

1928-1929 Barmen Opera House

1928-1929 Elberfeld Opera House

1929-1932 Berlin State Opera

1932-1933 Berlin Deutsche Oper

1935-1936 Vienna State Opera

1936-1939 Graz Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Artiphon, Berlin 1929-08?

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 03648

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola 03649

Artiphon, Berlin 1928-11?

Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 03346

Artiphon, Berlin 1929-10

Land des Lächelns (Lehár) Immer nur lächeln 03872

HMV, København 1931-08-25

Lohengrin (Wagner): Da voi lontan EL1007 2T362

Lohengrin (Wagner): Cigno fedel EL1007 2T361

HMV, København 1931-08-26/30

Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of the Indian Guest EK1084 0T373

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba EK1084 0T374

 HMV, København 1931-01-28/31

Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna e mobile EK1061 0T81

Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia EK1062 0T83

Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle EK1062 0T84

Traviata (Verdi): BrindisiEK1061 0T81

Grammophon, Berlin 1933-10?

Rigoletto (Verdi): Sie flieh'n mich? Wie grausam! with Neumann, Kandl, Berger, Batteux, Fleischer-Janczak & chorus 35004 686½BE8

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Nur Scherze sind's und Possen with Kandl, Fleischer-Janczak, Berger, Ruziczka & chorus 35004 687½BE8

Bellaccord, Riga 1933/1934?

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba M3649 3315

Pescatori di perle (Bizet): Mi par d’udire ancora  M3648 3315

Santa Lucia (Cottrau) M4640 3745

Elegie (Massenet) M4047 3485

Maria, Mari (Di Capua) M4639 3745

Dugen De Eguileor (Tenor) (Bilbao 1877 - Buenos Ayres 1952)

                                                                   Enzo

He studied singing with the pedagogue Santos Sarabia and  made his debut in 1905 at the Teatro del Liceo, Barcelonain Wagner’s ‘’Lohengrin’’. In 1907 he appeared at the Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao again in ‘’Lohengrin’’ and ‘’Mefistofele’’. He repeated the role of  Lohengrin also at the Teatro San Fernando in Seviglia (1909) and at the Teatro La Fenice in Venezia (1911). He retired from the stage approximately in 1935.

Chronology of some appearances

1905 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Lohengrin (Lohengrin)        
1906 Ferrara Teatro Tosi Borghi Carmen (Don Jose)
1907 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1908 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Manon (De Grieux)
1909 Seviglia Teatro San Fernando Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1911 Roma Teatro Apollo Cavalleria Rusticana (Turiddu)
1912 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Manon (De Grieux)
1914 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Aida (Radames)
1915 Novara Teatro Coccia Gioconda (Enzo)
1916 Novara Teatro Coccia Boheme (Rodolfo)
1917 Corfu Teatro Comunale Boheme (Rodolfo)
1918 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Aida (Radames)
1919 Barcellona Teatro Liceo La Morisca di J.Pahissa (Ben Afar)
1921 Nice Palais Mediterranee Gioconda (Enzo)
1922 Parigi Opera Aida (Radames)
1923 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Concerto
1933 Madrid Palacio de la Musica Concerto
1935 Bilbao Teatro Arriaga Marina (Jorge)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Spain
Nere Etorrera 68599
No te olvido (Villar) 68598

Guernikako Arbola 68611
La del pañuelo rojo (Tabuyo) 68612 

Torsten Lennartsson (Tenor) (Stockholm 1881 – Stockholm 1933)

                                                                Turiddu

His full name was Torsten Vilhelm Lennartsson. He received his education in Stockholmfrom Gillis Bratt and Oskar Lejdström. In 1908 he made his debut at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholmas Nando in ‘’Tiefland’’of  E. d'Albert. He belonged to this opera house till 1924. Here he performed with great success as lyric tenor, appearing among other things in ‘’Pêcheurs de perles’’, ‘’Barbiere di Siviglia’’, ‘’Don Giovanni’’, ‘’Boheme’’, ‘’Eugene Onegin’’. He also appeared as Nadir in Les Pêcheurs de Perles and Shuisky in Boris Godunov in Sweden 1909 and 1911 premieres. In 1910 he appeared there in the premiere of the opera ‘’Arnljot’’ of W. Peterson-Berger. He also appeared in tenor Buffo and character tenor parts and counted in the concert hall as a gifted song interpreter. He left the stage in 1924 to work as a teacher at the Conservatory of Stockholm. Among his students included Einar Andersson, Folke Andersson, Folke Cembræus and Sigurd Björling.

Chronology of some appearances

1908 Stockholm Royal Swedish Opera

1910 Stockholm Royal Swedish Opera Arnljot

1913 Stockholm Royal Swedish Opera Pêcheurs de perles

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Favorite, Stockholm1906-12

Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Kuplett (Aimer, aimer) (Fr) 1-85072 2287-o

Freischutz (Weber): Trio with Larsen & Matsson 1-89032 2361-o

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Madrigal with  Larsen 1-89033 2362-o

Gramophone, Stockholm 1913-01-15
Don Pasquale (Donizetti): Serenad (Com'è gentil) 2-82964 4658ab

Gramophone, Stockholm 1915-03-23

Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Har hos Eder min lyckliga barndom furflutit (Lensky's aria) 3-82047 17582L

Francis Banuls (Tenor) (Algiers 1897 – Toulon 1979)

He made his debut at Opéra-Comique in Paris on July 2nd, 1927. Banuls frequently appeared in provincial opera houses and had a successful career appearing as Rodolfo (‘’Boheme’’), Hoffmann (‘’The Tales of Hoffmann’’), Don José (‘’Carmen’’), Gérald (‘’Lakme’’), Pinkerton (‘’Madama Butterfly’’), Werther (‘’Werther’’), Cavaradossi (‘’Tosca’’) and Wilhelm Meister (“Mignon’’).

Chronology of appearance

1927 ParisOpéra-Comique

RECORDING FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris

Werther (Massenet): Lorsque l'enfant revient d'un voyage 188542 KI-1383

Otto Tamini (Tenor) (?1880 - ?)

                                                                Don Jose

Born Otto Haselbaum. He was the son of a German father and an Italian mother. His debut occurred in 1908 at the Viennese Volksoper. After he had appeared as successful there, he guested in 1910 in London. Also in England he excited sensation, so that he returned several times to London. As a member of a German traveling opera he travelled around Holland and sang among other things at the Amsterdam Rembrandt theatre. Probably he retired from the stage in 1914.

In 1909 at London he made 5 records for Gramophone

Chronology of some appearances

1908 ViennaVolksoper

1910 LondonConcert

RECORDING FOR SALE

Gramophone, London 1909-01-21
Walküre (Wagner): Winterstürme 042190 2786f

Lohengrin (Wagner): O Elsa! Nur ein Jahr an deiner Seite 042189 2790f

César Vezzani (Tenor) (Bastia, Corsica 1886 – Marseille 1951)

                                                                Canio

He was born in Bastia on Corsica and came to Paris in 1908. He hardly knew how to read and write and speaking a poor French! His voice was first discovered by the sopranist Agnes Borgo (1879 - 1958). She became his first teacher and sent him to the Conservatoire National de Paris. They married in 1913. He made his debut in Grétry’s ‘’Richard Coeur de Lion’’ at the Opéra-Comique in 1912. The couple was invited to sing in Boston and Chicago, but World War I broke out and they had to cancel. A disagreement with the management of the Opéra-Comique arose, after which his career was largely confined to the operas of Nizza, Marseille, Toulon and Toulouseand Brussels. He never returned to Paris. During World War II he lived in exile and appeared at the opera of Algier, where he was much admired. In 1947 he signed a contract for three years with the La Monnaie Brussels, but during a rehearsal on stage in Toulon he suffered a stroke which paralysed him completely. He died in 1951. Vezzani is a dramatic tenor of great brilliance and with a ringing top. There is a vibrant vitality in his singing. I particularly admire him as Otello (in excellent French, a forgotten art today). Di quella pira from ‘’Il Trovatore’’ and Reyer’s ‘’Sigurd’’ as well as Corentin in ‘’Dinorah’’ show him at his very best.

Chronology of appearance

1912 Paris Opéra-Comique Richard Coeur de Lion

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Paris 1912

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): M'habiller! M'habiller, ah puavre Canio (Recitar... Vesti la giubba) 111337 XP5786

Otello (Verdi): Tout m'abandonne, adieu (Ora e per sempre addio) 111338 XP5787

Sigurd (Reyer): Esprits gardiens 111340 XP5789

Reine de Saba (Gounod): Faiblesse de la race humaine... Inspirez-moi 111284 XP5791

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Pays merveilleux... O paradis 111339 XP5788

Odeon, Paris 1912/1913

Pardon de Ploërmel (Dinorah) (Meyerbeer): Les blés sont bons à faucher 111482 XP5971

Tosca (Puccini): O de beautes egales (Recondita armonia) with Payan 111557 XP5973

Tosca (Puccini): Elle est bonne, ma Tosca (E buona la mia Tosca) with Payan 111558 XP5974

Odeon, Paris 1913?

Manon (Massenet): Toi... Vous with  Heilbronner 111594 XP6074

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Pays merveilleux...O paradis 111339 XP5788

Tosca (Puccini): Et peste!... et diantre! (E sempre lava) with  Payan 111588 XP6096

Odeon, Paris 1914  

Werther (Massenet): J'aurais sur ma poitrine 111899 XP6405

Navarraise (Massenet): O bien-aimee 111900 XP6406

Manon (Massenet): Instant charmant...En fermant les yeux 111901 XP6407

Manon (Massenet): Je suis seul... Ah, fuyez, douce image 111890 XP6409

Carmen (Bizet): La fleur que tu m'avais jetee 111889 XP6408

Manon (Massenet): Je suis seul... Ah, fuyez, douce image 111890 XP6409

Chant de paques (Hosanna) (Granier) 111892 XP6411

Tosca (Puccini): Le ciel luisait d'etoiles (E lucevan le stelle) 111893 XP6412

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah, leve-toi soleil 111894 XP6413

Mireille (Gounod): Anges du paradis 111895

Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Puisqu'on ne peut flechir... Vainement, ma bien-aimee 111896 XP6417

Otello (Verdi): Que nul ce craigne (Niun mi tema) 111897 XP6418

Serenade (Standchen) (Schubert) 111898 XP6419

Werther (Massenet): Oui, ce qu'elle m'ordonne... Lorsque l'enfant 111881 XP6420

Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me reveiller 111882 XP6421

Richard Coeur de Lion (Gretry): Si l'univers entier 111883 XP6422

Boheme (Puccini): Que votre main est froide (Che gelida manina) 111884 XP6423

Jocelyn (Godard): Caches dans cet asile 111885 XP6424

Juive (Halevy): L'ai-je bien entendu? with  Payan 111879 XP6427

Juive (Halevy): Ah! J'implore en tremblant with  Payan 111880 XP6428

Manon (Massenet): Le Reve (En fermant les yeux) 111950

Gramophone, Paris 1923-02-27

Reine de Saba (Gounod): Inspirez-moi, race divine U63 4-32542

Gramophone, Paris 1923-06-08

Jerusalem (Lombardi) (Verdi): Je veux entendre encore U67 4-32552

Gramophone, Paris 1924-06-27

Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Asile hereditaire Y82 032438

Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-08

Juive (Halevy): Rachel, quand du Seigneur Y82 032439

Sigurd (Reyer): Prince du Rhin U73 4-32600

Sigurd (Reyer): Oui, Sigurd est vainqueur U73 4-32601

Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-10

Prophete (Meyerbeer): Pour Berthe U81 4-32621

Juive (Halevy): Dieu, que ma voix tremblante P660 4-32715

Prophete (Meyerbeer): Roi du Ciel U81 4-32622

Gramophone, Paris 1924-07-11

Trovatore (Verdi): Supplice infame (Di quella pira) U72 4-32597

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola (Sicilienne) P615 4-32659

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Ah, ne m'appochez pas (Ah, non v'avvicinate) U78 4-32607

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Oh! Manon (Ah! Manon mi tradisce) P610 4-32653

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens): Arretez, o mes freres P614 4-32656

Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-16

Lohengrin (Wagner): Ah, respirons tous deux (Atmest du nicht) P641 4-32688

Lohengrin (Wagner): Ma confiance en toi (Hцchstes Vertrauen) P641 4-32687

Manon Lescaut (Puccini): Parmi vous, o belles brunes (Tra voi belle) P610 4-32652

Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-18

Aida (Verdi): O celeste Aida W755 032472

Sigurd (Reyer): Esprits gardiens P624 4-32670

Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-19

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens): Israel, romps ta chaine (w. chorus) P614 4-32657

Otello (Verdi): Tout m'abandonne (Ora e per sempre addio) P660 4-32716

Otello (Verdi): Dieu, tu pouvais m'infliger (Dio mi potevi scagliar) P609 4-32651

Otello (Verdi): Que nul ne craigne (Niun mi tema) P609 4-32650

Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-20

Carmen (Bizet): La fleur P644 4-32689

Rigoletto (Verdi): Comme la plume au vent (La donna e mobile) P600 4-32639

Rigoletto (Verdi): Qu'une belle (Questa o quella) P600 4-32638

Sigurd (Reyer): J'ai garde mon ame ingenue P624 4-32669

Mattinata (Leoncavallo) (It) P615 4-32658

Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-23

Trovatore (Verdi): Mere, tu dors (Madre, nondormi) with Charbonnel  W706 034280

Trovatore (Verdi): Oui, la fatigue (Ai nostri monti ) with Charbonnel  P2 W706 034281

La Navarraise (Massenet): O bien-aimee, pourquoi n'es-tu pas lа P634 4-32681

Gramophone, Paris 1925-02-26

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Moi seul ai tous les torts (lo so che il torto) P607 4-32646

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Ah, servez de mere (Ah, voi dovrete fare da madre) P607 4-32647

Walkure (Wagner): O glaive promis de mon pere (Ein schwert verhieß mir der vater) W755 032471

Gismonda (Fevrier): Oui, vous etiez l'enjeu splendide P634 4-32682

Gramophone, Paris 1927-04-12

Juive (Halevy): Rachel, quand du Seigneur W846 032846

Juive (Halevy): Dieu, que ma voix tremblant W846 032847

Gramophone, Paris 1929-02-20

Tosca (Puccini): Le ciel luisait d'eiles (E lucevan le stelle) P848 50-887

Gramophone, Paris 1929-02-26

Werther (Massenet): Un autre est son epoux... J'aurais sur ma poitrine P808 4-32848

Gramophone, Paris 1929-02-28

Werther (Massenet): Oui, ce qu'elle m'ordonne... Lorsque l'enfant Revient P844 52-1256

Gramophone, Paris 1930-04-02

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Pays merveilleux...O paradis P854 50-984

Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Ah! Quel spectacle... Plus blanche W1087 52-652

Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-10

Lohengrin (Wagner): Mon cygne aime (Mein lieber Schwan) DB4828 52-1008

Lohengrin (Wagner): Aux bords lointains (In fernem Land) DB4828 52-1009

Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-11

Navarraise (Massenet): O bien-aimee, pourquoi n'est-tu pas lа? DA4843 50-3011

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): L'amour, l'amour... Ah! Leve-toi, soleil DB4931 52-1282

Romeo et Juliette (Gounod): Salut! Tombeau! DB4931 52-1283

Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-14

Favorite (Donizetti): Ange si pur DA4863 50-3819

Pecheurs de perles (Bizet): C'est toi, toi enfin que je revois... Au fond du temple saint with  Musy DB4862 52-1103

Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-15

Favorite (Donizetti): Un ange, une femme inconnue DA4863 50-3820

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens): En ces lieux with with Duchene DB4845 52-1052

Gramophone, Paris 1931-09-16

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Mais non, que dis-je, hélas with Duchêne DA4820 50-2162

Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-27

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns): Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix with  Duchêne DA4819 50-2160

Le Crucifix (Faure) with Cazaux L929 52-1040

Mattinata (Leoncavallo) (Fr) K6545 50-2131

Les millions d'Arlequin (Drigo) K6545 50-2132

Gramophone, Paris 1932-01-28

Walküre (Wagner): Plus d'hiver, déjà le printemps (Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond) DB4857 52-1088

Walküre (Wagner): O glaive promis par mon père (Ein Schwert verhieß) DB4857 52-1088

Herodiade (Massenet): Ne pouvant reprimer DB4844 52-1050

Roi d'Ys (Lalo): Vainement, ma bien aimee DB4854 52-1082

Roi d'Ys (Lalo): A l'autel j'allais rayonnant with Brothier DB4854 52-1083

Gramophone, Paris 1932-11-21

Siegfried (Wagner): Nothung! Nothung! DA4847 50-2728

Gramophone, Paris 1932-11-22

Africaine (Meyerbeer): C'est de lаque mon canot fragile... Combien tu m'es chere with  Ricquier DB4901 52-1204

Africaine (Meyerbeer): Erreur fatale with  Ricquier DB4901 52-1205

Gramophone, Paris 1932-11-23

Louise (Charpentier): Depuis longtemps j'habitais cette chambre with Guyla DB4970 (52-1380)

Gramophone, Paris 1933-10-30

U banditu d'onore (trad, in Corsican) K7152 50-3465

U trenu di Bastia (Marchetti) (in Corsican) K7152 50-3466

Gramophone, Paris 1933-10-31

Lohengrin (Wagner): Déjà se perd leur voix (Das süße Lied verhallt) with Berthon DB4920 52-1256

Lohengrin (Wagner): Ah, respirons tous deux (Atmest du nicht mit mir) with Berthon DB4920 52-1257

Lohengrin (Wagner): Ma confiance en toi (Höchstes Vertrauen) with Berthon DB4921 52-1259

Stanisław Gruszczyński (Tenor) ( Ludwinowie 1891 - Milanówku 1959)

                                                               Lohengrin

First he became a waiter; because he could not finance his education, he studied singing by listening sound recordings of other singers. In 1916 he made his debut at the Warsaw Opera as Radames in ‘’Aida’’. He was so successful that he already engaged to sing in Hamburg and Berlin. During the 1920s he made guest appearances in Italy, in particular in Milan and in Madrid. In 1924 he had at the Teatro Massimo, Palermo only low success and decided to leave Italy. He returned to Polandand became a great favourite of the Warsaw Opera. He counted, above all in the Wagner's repertoire, as the successor of the popular tenor Ignacy Dygas. Also as Otello in Verdi's opera of the same name. In 1922 he performed at the Warsaw Opera  in the premiere of the opera ''Hagith'' of  K. Szymanowski. From 1926-31 he was very successful in Warsaw, then, nevertheless, he lost a huge fortune and quickly became a compulsive alcoholic, so he lived almost as a beggar. He died on February 3, 1959 in Milanówek He was endowed with exceptional abilities and major musical memory, learning each role very quickly. He was awarded, among others Officer's Cross of the Order of Polish Rebirth (1955). In Poland he made meteoric career and gained a reputation as one of the most famous Polish opera singers of his time.

Chronology of some appearances

1921 Lisbona Teatro San Carlos Lohengrin (Lohengrin)
1921 Lisbona  Teatro San Carlos Pagliacci (Canio)

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Syrena

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba  18982 3112

Carmen (Bizet): Il fior 18983 3112

Przyjdz (Come to me) (Jerzy Petersburski) 22586 3825

Lohengrin (Wagner): Weselny przebrzmial spiew with Elena Ruszkowska