Description

VILÉM ZÍTEK (PRAGUE, SEPTEMBER 9, 1890 – PRAGUE, AUGUST 11, 1956)

 

 

 

 

His real name was Vilém Václav. First, he studied singing at the Conservatoire Pivoda in Prague, then in Milan under G. Binettiho. In 1911, he made his debut at the National Theatre in Prague and remained a member of this opera house until the end of his career. In 1914, he achieved sensational success as Gremin in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, and from this performance until his retirement from the stage in 1947, he was one of the most significant Czech singers of his epoch, equally prominent in the Czech, Russian, Italian, and German repertoire.

On April 23, 1920, he appeared at the National Theatre in the premiere of Leoš Janáček’s opera Výlety pana Broučka. Guest performances abroad also brought him significant success: in 1926, he appeared at the Teatro Regio in Turin. During the 1928-29 season, he sang in Berlin, and in 1933, he performed in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Arturo Toscanini engaged him for Teatro alla Scala, where he sang during the 1926-27 season in the roles of Fasolt and Hunding in Wagner’s Nibelungenring. From 1929 to 1931, he appeared as Gessler in Rossini’s Guglielmo Tell, the Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, as well as Fafner and Hunding.

In 1928, he made guest appearances in Paris under Bruno Walter, singing Mozart roles. In 1936, he again appeared at the Grand Opéra as the Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In 1946, he was named National Artist, by which time he was regarded as the greatest living Czech singer. He made six records for Parlophon in 1927.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1914 Prague National Theatre Eugene Onegin (Gremin)

1920 Prague National Theatre Výlety pana Broučka (-)

1927 Milano Teatro alla Scala Don Giovanni (Commendatore)

1936 Paris Grand Opéra Don Giovanni (Commendatore)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Largo al factotum Parlophon B 10654 14681
2. Don Carlo (Verdi) Ella giammai m’amo P8902 2-20378 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-07
3. Ernani (Verdi) Che mai veggio P8902 2-20376 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-07
4. Faust (Gounod) Rondo 13594-II 34325 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-07
5. Juive (Halévy) Se oppressi ognor P8903 2-20377 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-07
6. Mefistofele (Boito) Son lo spirito che nega P8903 2-20379 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-07
7. Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Kazdý jen tu svou P60010 2-20380 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-07