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. Ach není tu, není tu (trad) 2-72276 1333ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-04
2. Carmen (Bizet) Seguidilla with Ottilie Metzger 044157 454m Gramophone, Berlin 1910-02-26
3. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) O Lola (Siciliana) 2-72058 12726u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-04
4. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Duett (w. Bogucka) 74175 7752r Gramophone, Praha 1910-08/09
5. Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu) Ha, má tu vojín v svete ráj 2-72306 1346ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-05
6. Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu) Pojd, ó vrácná dámo 2-72305, 1347ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-05
7. Don Giovanni (Mozart) Pouta prátelstvi (Dalla sua pace) 2-72055 12370u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-01/02
8. Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Wohl drang aus ihrem Herzen 042307 2309c Gramophone, Berlin 1911-08-26
9. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Entrée des Raoul (Sous le beau ciel) 2-72057 12723u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-04
10. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Její lice (Plus blanche) 2-72056 12371u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-01/02
11. Když jsem já k vám chodivával (-) 2-72309 1334ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-04
12. Má divenka jak ruže jest (Fibich) 2-72059 12727u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-04
13. Manon (Massenet) Flieh’, o flieh’ 042308, 2310c Gramophone, Berlin 1911-08-26
14. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Wo lebte wohl ein Wesen 4-42347 1772ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-12
15. Martha (Flotow) Solo profugo reietto (w. Pollert) 074009 560m Gramophone, Praha 1911-06/07
16. Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 2-72310 1335ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-04
17. Mattinata (Leoncavallo) 4-42454 12427L Gramophone, Berlin 1910-05-16
18. Mé zlaté rodice (Libicka) 2-72075 4951r Gramophone, Praha 1908-07/08
19. Meine Sonne (O sole mio) (di Capua) 4-42455 12426L Gramophone, Berlin 1910-05-16
20. Pro vás (Závyšova písen) (Friml) 2-72274 1342ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-05
21. Prodaná Nevesta (Smetana) Verné milováni… Nuž tedy jdi (w. Destinn) 074004, 074005, 285ac, 286ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-21
22. Rigoletto (Verdi) Ballade (Questa o quella) 2-72190, 7756r Gramophone, Praha 1910-08/09
23. Rigoletto (Verdi) Ó jak je menivé (La donna è mobile) 2-72191, 7755r Gramophone, Praha 1910-08/09
24. Tosca (Puccini) Ach, die Augen, die wundersamen (w. von der Osten) 044193, 2297c Gramophone, Berlin 1911-08-24
25. Tosca (Puccini) Nur deinetwegen wollt’ ich noch nicht sterben (w. von der Osten) 044194 2298c Gramophone, Berlin 1911-08-24
26. Tosca (Puccini) Und es blitzten die Sterne 4-42348 1773ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-12
27. Traviata (Verdi) Auf, schlürfet in durstigen Zügen (w. von Skilondz & chorus) Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-04
28. Traviata (Verdi) Duett (Un dì felice) (w. Bogucka) 74174 7753r Gramophone, Praha 1910-08/09
29. Tys láska má (Jeg elsker dig) (Grieg) 2-72273 1352ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-05
30. Už mou milou (The wedding) (Folk song) 2-72275, 343ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-09-05