Description

JUAN LURIA (WARSAW, 20 DECEMBER, 1862 – SOBIBOR, 21 MAY, 1943)

His real name was Johannes Lorié. Born into a Jewish family, he became one of the most notable baritones of his time. He studied under Joseph Gänsbacher in Vienna and Baks in Berlin. In 1885, he made his debut at the Hoftheater in Stuttgart. In 1890, he debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he performed during the 1890-1891 season as Nevers in Les Huguenots, Pizarro in Fidelio, Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, Alberich in Der Ring des Nibelungen, Gunther in Götterdämmerung, and in the premiere of the opera Diana von Solange by Duke Ernst II of Coburg-Gotha (1891).

In 1891, he went to Italy and achieved great success over several seasons under the name Giovanni Luria. At La Scala, he created the role of Wotan in the Italian premiere of Die Walküre (in Italian) in 1897. In 1894, he appeared in Genoa in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell. He later returned to Germany, performing frequently at the Theater des Westens in Berlin. On November 9, 1901, he sang at the Stadttheater in Elberfeld in the premiere of Hans Pfitzner’s Die Rose vom Liebesgarten. He made successful guest appearances at the Vienna State Opera, the Munich State Opera, and the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. In 1908, he again performed at the Theater des Westens in Berlin before focusing on teaching. His notable pupils included Gotthelf Pistor, Käthe Heidersbach, Elfriede Marherr, and Michael Bohnen.

Tragically, his life took a dark turn. In 1937, he fled to the Netherlands, where he taught in Amsterdam and The Hague. However, after the German invasion of the Netherlands in May 1940, he was interned in a concentration camp. He was deported from Westerbork to Sobibor on May 18, 1943, and died on May 21, 1943, at the age of 79.

Chronology of some appearances

1890 New York Metropolitan Opera Les Huguenots (Count de Nevers)

1891 New York Metropolitan Opera Fidelio (Don Pizarro)

1894 Genova Teatro Carlo Felice Guglielmo Tell (Tell)

1897 Milan La Scala Walküre (Wotan)

TRACKLIST

1. A morire (Carissimi) 1-35073 2466-o Favorite, Berlin 1907-02-21
2. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Figlia di regi 3-42743 5006L G&T, Berlin 1907-01
3. An der Weser (Pressel) 1-15479 2434-o Favorite, Berlin 1907-01-25
4. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) O dolcezza perdute, o memorie! 1-35043 332-o Favorite, Berlin 1905-0203
5. Carmen (Bizet) Ho nome Escamillo (w. Spiwak) 1070 B764 Homocord, Berlin 1908-06-30
6. Carmen (Bizet) Toreador 1-15480 2435-o Favorite, Berlin 1907-01-25
7. Caro mio ben (Giordani) 1-35072 2465-o Favorite, Berlin 1907-02-21
8. Christbaum (Cornelius) 1-15021 Favorite, Berlin 1911-10
9. Christus, der Kinderfreund (Cornelius) 1-15020 Favorite, Berlin 1911-10
10. Dein gedenk’ ich, Margareta (Meyer-Helmund) 05054 Anker, Berlin 1911-12
11. Don Giovanni (Mozart) La ci darem la mano (w. Heymann-Engel) 1-19119 1219-o Favorite, Berlin 1906-01 (medio)
12. Don Sébastien (Donizetti) O Lisbona 1-15337 436-o  Favorite, Berlin 1905-04
13. Faust (Gounod) Da ich nun verlassen soll (Valentins Gebet) D1044 Dacapo, Berlin 1907-08-2331
14. Favorite (Donizetti) A tanto amor 1-15331 419-o  Favorite, Berlin 1905-04
15. Fliegende Holländer (Wagner) Versank ich jetzt (w. Lous)  X51357 xB3939 Odeon, Berlin 1908-07
16. Fredericus Rex (Loewe) D1041 Dacapo, Berlin 1907-08-2331
17. Gli tre cicesbei ridicoli (Ciampi (label Pergolesi)) Nina (Tre giorni son che Nina) 1-35042 331-o Favorite, Berlin 1905-0203
18. Guillaume Tell (Rossini) O Mathilde (w. Spiwak) X99060 xB3970 Odeon, Berlin 1908-07
19. Lockruf (Rückauf) D1049 Dacapo, Berlin 1907-08-2331
20. Mandolinata (Paladilhe) 11478 Homocord, Berlin 1909-10-12