Description

ARTHUR CAVARA (ARTŪRS VILHELMS PRIEDNIEKS) (LIBAU, LATVIA, 29 JUNE, 1901 – GULFPORT, FLORIDA, USA, 9 APRIL, 1979)

Artūrs Vilhelms Priednieks, who adopted the stage name “Cavara” in honor of his favorite role, Cavaradossi, was a Latvian tenor with a prominent international career. Born to a working-class family, he began his musical journey in 1924 as a member of the theatrical choir in Libau, where he also took on small solo roles. His formal vocal training took place in Berlin (1927-31) and Vienna (1935-37), where he honed his craft and developed his talent for opera.

His operatic career began during the 1928-29 season at the opera houses of Barmen and Elberfeld. He then joined the Berlin State Opera from 1929 to 1932, followed by a season at the Deutsche Oper Berlin from 1932-33. He later performed at the Vienna State Opera during the 1935-36 seasons and appeared in the Graz Opera House from 1936-39. Concurrently, he made guest appearances at the Vienna Volksoper and in 1935, participated in the premiere of Paul Abraham’s operetta Dschainah at the Vienna Opera House.

His repertoire was diverse, encompassing both classical and modern works. At the Berlin Kroll Opera from 1929 to 1931, he performed roles such as Hoffmann in Hoffmanns Erzählungen, Hans in Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, the Duke in Rigoletto, Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Gonzalve in Ravel’s L’Heure espagnole. He also took part in two significant premieres: Paul Hindemith’s Neues vom Tage (1929) and Janáček’s From the House of the Dead. These performances helped establish him as a versatile and gifted tenor.

He achieved great success in his homeland as well. At the Latvian National Opera in Riga, he performed major roles, including Alvaro in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino (1931), Faust in Gounod’s Faust (1932), Nadir in Bizet’s Les Pêcheurs de Perles (1933), and Radames in Verdi’s Aida (1938), in which he starred alongside the renowned Latvian soprano Alida Vane.

He continued to expand his international presence, performing at the Municipal Theatre of Zurich in the 1933-34 seasons, including a notable appearance in the premiere of Zemlinsky’s opera Der Kreidekreis on October 14, 1933. He also made guest appearances at the Grand Théâtre of Geneva.

After World War II, he emigrated to the United States, where he transitioned into a career as a concert singer and later became a respected pedagogue. His journey from Latvia to the international opera stages, and eventually to the U.S., demonstrates his resilience and dedication to his art.

TRACKLIST

1. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 03648 Artiphon, Berlin 1929-08?
2. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola 03649 Artiphon, Berlin 1929-08?
3. Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 03346 Artiphon, Berlin 1928-11?
4. Land des Lächelns (Lehár) Immer nur lächeln 03872 Artiphon, Berlin 1929-10
5. Lohengrin (Wagner): Da voi lontan EL1007 2T362 HMV, København 1931-08-25
6. Lohengrin (Wagner): Cigno fedel EL1007 2T361 HMV, København 1931-08-25
7. Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of the Indian Guest EK1084 0T373 HMV, København 1931-08-26/30
8. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba EK1084 0T374 HMV, København 1931-08-26/30
9. Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna e mobile EK1061 0T81 HMV, København 1931-01-28/31
10. Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia EK1062 0T83 HMV, København 1931-01-28/31
11. Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle EK1062 0T84 HMV, København 1931-01-28/31
12. Traviata (Verdi): Brindisi EK1061 0T81 HMV, København 1931-01-28/31
13. Rigoletto (Verdi): Sie flieh’n mich? Wie grausam! with Neumann, Kandl, Berger, Batteux, Fleischer-Janczak & chorus 35004 686½BE8 Grammophon, Berlin 1933-10?
14. Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Nur Scherze sind’s und Possen with Kandl, Fleischer-Janczak, Berger, Ruziczka & chorus 35004 687½BE8 Grammophon, Berlin 1933-10?
15. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba M3649 3315 CD, Riga 1933/1934?
16. Pescatori di perle (Bizet): Mi par d’udire ancora M3648 3315 Bellaccord, Riga 1933/1934?
17. Santa Lucia (Cottrau) M4640 3745 Bellaccord, Riga 1933/1934?
18. Elegie (Massenet) M4047 3485 Bellaccord, Riga 1933/1934?
19. Maria, Mari (Di Capua) M4639 3745 Bellaccord, Riga 1933/1934?