Description

ENRICO ARENSON (HEINZ ARENSEN) (RIGA, LATVIA, 1884 – ? 1943)

 

 

 

 

Enrico Arenson was a versatile tenor known for his opera and concert performances in various countries.

Early Life and Career:

• Background: Born into a Jewish family, Arensen initially worked as a tailor in New York.
• Discovery: He was discovered by a musical amateur while singing at a Yiddish wedding. His talent led to a shift from tailoring to a career in music.

Musical Career:

• Concert Singer: Arensen began his career as a concert singer, establishing himself in the genre before moving into opera.
• Opera Debut: In 1910, he made his operatic debut at the Boston Opera as Manrico in Verdi’s Il Trovatore.
• Performances Abroad: Throughout his career, Arensen performed in various opera houses across Canada, Italy, and Germany.
• Russian Engagement: In 1922, performing under the name Enrico Arenson, he appeared in a concert at the Russian Grammar School in Zelenogorsk, Russia, alongside notable artists such as O. K. Nazarova, O. V. Pototskaya, and M. A. Tamarina.

Stage Names:

• Varied Names: Arensen performed under several names, including Andrea Arensen, Enrico Arenson, and Andre Arensen, adapting his stage persona to different regions and performances.

Personal Life:

• Marriage: While in Italy, Arensen met and married Nadine Legat, a talented singer herself.

Legacy:

• Impact: Despite his varied stage names and the geographical span of his career, Arensen left a lasting impact on both concert and operatic stages through his performances.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1908 Mirandola Teatro Nuovo Samsone e Dalida (Sansone)

1909 Pistoia Politeama Mabellini Trovatore (Manrico)

1910 Soresina Teatro Sociale Trovatore (Manrico)

1916 Louis Teatro Odeon Pagliacci (Canio)

1917 San Juan de Puerto Rico Teatro Colon Otello (Otello)

1919 San Juan de Puerto Rico Teatro Colon Stagione Compagnia Mancini

1922 Zelenogorsk Concert

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Juive (Halevy): Recha, als Gott 042439 1206s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-10-17
2. Juive (Halévy): Für ihn, für mich erflehe (w. Gottlieb & Hansen) 044246 1207s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-10-17
3. Juive (Halévy): Allmacht’ger blicke gnädig (w. Gottlieb & chorus) 044245 1210s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-10-17
4. Juive (Halévy): Gott erleuchte meine (w. ensemble) 042438 1211s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-10-17
5. Rusalka (Dargomyzhky): Aria 72769 B21593-2 Victor, New York 1918-03-21
6. At the ball (Tchaikovsky) 72769 B21593-2 Victor, New York 1918-03-28
7. Africana (Meyerbeer): O paradiso 15002 B 1420D (H&D), USA
8. Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 15004 A Gennett (H&D), USA
9. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 15002 A Gennett (H&D), USA
10. Rigoletto (Verdi): E’ il sol dell’anima (w. Legat) 15004 B Gennett (H&D), USA