Description

OTAKAR MAŘÁK (ESZTERGOM, 5 JANUARY, 1872 – PRAGUE, 2 JULY, 1939)

He studied at the Prague Conservatory with Parsova-Zikesova. He made his debut in the title role of Charles Gounod’s opera ‘’Faust’’ on 1 February 1899 in Brno, Czech Republic. In the same year he was engaged by the National Theatre in Prague. From 1901, he performed abroad. He was a regular member of the National Theatre between 1899–1901 and again in 1903–1907. Thereafter he sang on this first Czech stage as a permanent guest. In 1907 he left for Paris, where he continued to school his voice. In 1903, Marak was engaged by the Hofper in Viennna. Due the initiative of Gustav Maler, in 1906, he became soloist at the Berlin Komische Opera. In 1908, Ottokar Marak made a successful debut at Covent Garden. There, he sang José, Turiddu, and Canio. In 1911, he shared the role of Gennaro in the new opera by Wolf-Ferrari “The Secret the Madonna” and also sang in the première of Ferruccio Busoni’s ‘’Die Brautwahl’’ (1912, Hamburg). In 1913 he was the first London Bacchus (‘’Ariadne auf Naxos’’), and the following year he sang in Chicago as Parsifal in the local première of Richard Wagner’s opera. He made guest appearances in Paris, Munich, Hamburg and Brussels. Following World War I, he became an American citizen and went on to teach in the country between 1934–1937. A brain seizure in 1937 forced his to return to Prague where he died two years later. He especially excelled in Smetana parts such as Jeník in ‘’The Bartered Bride’’, ‘’Dalibor’’, Ladislav Podhajský in The ‘’Two Widows’’, Lucas in ‘’The Kiss’’ as well as in traditional world repertory which saw Marak play Don Ottavio in ‘’Don Giovanni’’, Massenet’s ‘’Werther’’, Cavaradossi in ‘’Tosca’’ and Alfred Germont in ‘’La Traviata’’. He often took on the role of Don José in Bizet’s ‘’Carmen’’. He is one of the first singers of the time to sing in a full recording of ‘’Pagliacci’’ for Odeon. Marak like his fellow country person, Emmy Destinn, was one of the few Czech singers of the Golden Age to have international careers. Sadly, Marak spent much of his later years in poverty, counting on his American friends to send him cigarettes.

TRACKLIST

1. 28 ríjen Ceského Narodního Divadla E4662 86095, Columbia, New York 1920-1921
2. Dalibor (Smetana) Když Zdenek muj J707 WH2319 Columbia, Wien 1929-06/07
3. Hájku, hájku (trad) 41187, D3096 Columbia, Praha 1905
4. Hubicka (Smetana) Jsme svoji, jsme svoji (w. Horáková) J706 WH2318 Columbia, Wien 1929-06/07
5. Jako andel ty jsi krásná (Bradsky) 41195, D3096, Columbia, Praha 1905
6. Když jsem já jel (trad) XP53539 Columbia cylinders, Praha 1902-1903
7. Kdyz te Vidim ma Panenko E4734 86048 Columbia 1920
8. Liebeslieder (Dvorák) O naší lásce 74-F W106647 Columbia, New York 1926-04
9. Marjánka a já E4631 86043 Columbia, New York 1920-03
10. My Zlaty Rodice E4775 86040 Columbia 1920
11. Nestastny Safarov Dvorecek E4734 86039 Columbia 1920
12. O jak jsi krásná (Chvála) 41186, D3094 Columbia, Praha 1905
13. Otce, Otce, Otce Nas E4775 86041 Columbia 1920
14. Pozváni Ceského Narodního Divadla E4662 86081, Columbia 1920-1921
15. Prodaná Nevesta (Smetana) Jak možno verit J707 WH2320 Columbia, Wien 1929-0607
16. Prodaná Nevesta (Smetana) Verné naše milováni (w. Horáková) J706 WH2317 Columbia, Wien 1929-06/07
17. Prodaná Nevesta (Smetana) Znám jednu dívku (w. Pollert) XP57289 Columbia cylinders, Praha 1906
18. Šila košilicku, pentlový rukávy (trad) E4852 86037 Columbia, New York 1920-03
19. Tam hle chaloupka E4852 86047 Columbia, New York 1920-03
20. Tece voda proti vode (trad) 41182, D3094 Columbia, Praha 1905
21. V Studni (Blodek) Duett Janka-Vojtech (w. Kliment) 41192, D3183, Columbia, Praha 1905
22. Vier Lider im Volkston (Dvorák) Dobrú noc 74-F W106646 Columbia, New York 1926-04
23. Vy hvezdicky 69-F W106654 Columbia, New York 1926