Description

LEO SLEZAK (ŠUMPERK, CZECH REPUBLIC, 18 AUGUST, 1873 – ROTTACH-EGERN, GERMANY, 1 JUNE, 1946)

 

 

 

 

He began his career modestly, singing as an amateur in the choir of the local theater in Brünn (now Brno, Czech Republic), where his talent caught the attention of baritone Adolf Robinson. With Robinson’s encouragement, Slezak pursued formal vocal training.

In 1896, Slezak made his professional stage debut in Brünn, performing the role of Lohengrin, a part he would become renowned for. His rich voice, dramatic presence, and versatility quickly established him as one of the foremost tenors of his time, particularly in the Wagnerian repertoire. Over his illustrious career, Slezak performed in many of Europe’s leading opera houses, including the Vienna State Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

In addition to his operatic achievements, Slezak was also known for his charismatic stage personality, and later in life, he appeared in films, further showcasing his multifaceted talents.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1896 Brünn (Brno) Stadttheater

1898 Berlin Hofoper

1899-1901 Wroclaw Opernhaus

1900 London Covent Garden

1901-1912 Vienna Hofoper

1901 Prague Deutschen Theater

1902 Zurich Stadttheater

1905 Brünn (Brno) Stadttheater

1905 Milan La Scala

1907 Lvov (Lwów) Opera

1907 Vienna Hofoper

1909 London Covent Garden

1909 Vienna Volksoper

1909 Paris Théâtre Châtelet

1910 Vienna Hofoper

1910 New York Metropolitan Opera

1910 New York Metropolitan Opera

1910 Boston Opera Otello (Otello)

1910 Boston Opera Trovatore (Manrico)

1911 New York Metropolitan Opera

1912 New York Metropolitan Opera

1912 Frankfurt a. M. Oper

1916 Dresden  Hofoper

1917 Frankfurt a. M. Oper

1917-1934 Vienna Hofoper

1918 Budapest

1920 Copenhagen

1920-1921 Stockholm

1922 Basel Stadttheater

1929 Berlin

1933 Vienna Hofoper

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi) Zu des Niles heil’gen Ufern (w. Elizza, Forst, Stehmann, Mayr & chorus) 3-44055 15230u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-02
2. Alessandro Stradella (Flotow) Jungfrau Maria (Gebet) 4-42263 14623u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
3. Alessandro Stradella (Flotow) Trinklied (w. Mayr) 3-44006 14621u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
4. Am Meer (Schubert) 4-42242 14612u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
5. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Ich bin dir nah (w. Bland) 2-44425 13225u Gramophone, Wien 1908-07
6. Carmen (Bizet) O Carmen, nur ein Wort (w. Kittel) 044132 0986v Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
7. Das Veilchen (Mozart) 4-42228 14608u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
8. Der Lenz (Hildach) 3-42974, 11807u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
9. Der Neugierige (Schubert) 4-42274 14613u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
10. Die Lotusblume (Schumann) 4-42227 14607u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
11. Die Träne (Rubinstein) 4-42378 15841u Gramophone, Paris 1910-05-28
12. Euryanthe (Weber) Unter blühenden Mandelbäumen 4-42216 14579u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
13. Fliegende Holländer (Wagner) Will jenes Tages (Cavatine) 4-42380 15846u Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-03
14. Ganz leise (Hans Sommer) 4-42232, 14609u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
15. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Ah, Mathilde (w. Demuth) 2-44342 11806u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
16. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) O Seligkeit (w. Forst) 2-44419 13045u Gramophone, Wien 1908-06
17. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Ach, welch’ ein reizendes Bild 042256, 01518v Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-03
18. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Wer bist du, himmlisch schönes Wesen (w. Elizza) 3-44066 15125u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-17
19. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Will meinem guten Recht vertrauen (w. Preuss, Stehmann & Mayr) 2-44427 13223u Gramophone, Wien 1908-07
20. Ich trage meine Minne (R Strauss) 4-42399 15840u Gramophone, Paris 1910-05-28
21. Im Kahne (Grieg) 4-42377 15839u Gramophone, Paris 1910-05-28
22. Juive (Halévy) Ach, lass dein Vaterherz (w. Hesch) 2-44321 11799u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
23. Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Dieses Auge (w. Elizza, Stehmann, Mayr & chorus) 044222 01212v Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-02
24. Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Du Ew’ger, der mein Aug’ gelichtet 4-42094, 11800u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
25. Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Kommst du endlich wieder (w. Bland) 2-44426, 13226u Gramophone, Wien 1908-07
26. Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Magische Töne 4-42361 14585u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
27. La serenata (Tosti) 2-52713 13047u Gramophone, Wien 1908-06
28. Liebesbotschaft (Schubert) 4-42233, 14615u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
29. Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan 042222 01199v Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-20
30. Manon (Massenet) Der Traum 4-42401 15845u Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-03
31. Manon (Massenet) Ist’s nicht mehr die Hand (w. Elizza) 3-44067 15126u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-17
32. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Selig wie die Sonne (w. Forst, Kittel, Preuss & Demuth) 044144 01198v Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-17
33. Muette de Portici (Auber) Der Feindes Macht (w. Mayr) 3-44007 14622u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
34. Muette de Portici (Auber) Schlummerlied 4-42026, 11809u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
35. Prophète (Meyerbeer) In eines Domes (Der Traum) 042255 01514v Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-02
36. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pastorale 4-42037, 11802u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
37. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Triumphgesang 4-42038 11801u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
38. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Triumphgesang 4-42262 14581u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
39. Ständchen (Schubert) 3-42975 11808u Gramophone, Wien 1907-10
40. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Dir, Göttin der Liebe (Loblied) 4-42379 15837u Gramophone, Paris 1910-05-27
41. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Inbrunst im Herzen 042257, 01200v Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-20
42. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Nach Rom gelangte ich 042258 01515v Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-02
43. Tannhäuser (Wagner) O kehr’ zurück (w. Preuss, Stehmann & Mayr) 2-44428 13224u Gramophone, Wien 1908-07
44. Trovatore (Verdi) Dass noch einmal sie erschiene (w. Kittel) 3-44033 14584u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
45. Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’ ich (Ständchen) 4-42103 13048u Gramophone, Wien 1908-06
46. Trovatore (Verdi) Lodern zum Himmel (Stretta) 4-42390 15843u Gramophone, Paris 1910-06-02
47. Wohin (Schubert) 4-42243 14614u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
48. Zauberflöte (Mozart) Bildnisarie 4-42215, 14578u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05