Description

BOHUMIL BENONI (CHRUDIM, 25 FEBRUARY, 1862 – WEIßWASSER, 10 FEBRUARY, 1942)

 

 

 

 

He first studied under Anny Chrzová in Chrudim, then at the opera school of J. L. Lukes in Prague. In 1882, he made his debut in Prague as a concert singer. In 1883, he debuted as a comprimario (Nightwatchman in Kolár Primátor) at the National Theatre, where he was so successful that later that same year he made his second debut as Valentin in Gounod’s Faust. He became renowned for his portrayal of Don Giovanni, a role he performed in Prague in 1887.

By 1885, he had already sung the role of Telramund in Lohengrin in Prague. In 1888, he appeared as Eugene Onegin in the Prague premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, which was directed by the composer himself. At the National Theatre in Prague, he took part in several opera premieres, including Dvořák’s Der Jakobiner on February 12, 1889, J. B. Forester’s Eva on March 31, 1901, and Dvořák’s Rusalka on the same day.

Later in his career, he worked in Prague as a pedagogue. He was married to the well-known Czech actress Hanna Benoni (1868-1922).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1883 Prague National Theatre Kolár Primátor (Nightwatchman)

1885 Prague National Theatre Lohengrin (Telramund)

1887 Prague National Theatre Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni)

1888 Prague National Theatre Eugene Onegin (Eugene Onegin)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Prolog 72195 3648L G&T, Praha 1906
2. Tannhäuser (Wagner): Romance an den Abendstern 72146 3649L G&T, Praha 1906
3. Otello (Verdi): Credo 72216 3669L G&T, Praha 1906
4. Carmen (Bizet): Toreador 72179 3671L G&T, Praha 1906
5. Nozze di Figaro (Mozart): Crudel, perchè finora with Bobková 74026 3650L G&T, Praha 1906
6. Don Giovanni (Mozart): Là ci darem with Kubátova 74034 3651L G&T, Praha 1906
7. Fliegende Holländer (Wagner): Duett with Pollert 274000 3735r G&T, Praha 1907
8. Guillaume Tell (Rossini): Prière de Tell 2-72024 3752r G&T, Praha 1907
9. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Aria 2-72026 3738r G&T, Praha 1907
10. Faust (Gounod): Avant de quitter 2-72025 3753r G&T, Praha 1907
11. Taku som si frajerocku V.*4-102048 4991r Gramophone, Praha 1908
12. Proc jsi k nám neprisel V.*4-102049 4993r Gramophone, Praha 1908
13. Zakletý prine (-): Arie 2-72132 5017r Gramophone, Praha 1908
14. Hedy (Fibich): Zpěv Lambra 2-72133 5018r Gramophone, Praha 1908
15. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky): Aria V.*4-102369 Gramophone, Praha
16. Certova stena (Smetana): Aria Vokova V.*4-102381 Gramophone, Praha
17. Carmen (Bizet): Votre toast V.*4-102380 Gramophone, Praha
18. Traviata (Verdi): Di Provenza V.*4-102368 Gramophone, Praha