Description

ELENA RUSZKOWSKA (LVIV, 23 APRIL, 1877 – KRAKOW, 4 NOVEMBER, 1948)

 

 

 

 

She made her opera debut in 1900 at the Lviv Opera House in Flotow’s Martha. Initially performing under her married name, Elena Zboinska-Ruszkowska, after marrying Marcel Zboinski, she gained recognition with her performance in the premiere of Władysław Żeleński’s Janek on October 4, 1900.

In 1904, she achieved notable success with a concert in Vienna and returned there in 1906 to perform Verdi’s Aida. Following her separation from Zboinski, she married Dr. Ferdinand Seeliger, the secretary of the Austrian Minister of Finance, in Vienna in 1907. That same year, she made a notable guest appearance at La Scala, Milan, as Gutrune in Götterdämmerung, sharing the stage with Felia Litvinne as Brunnhilde. In the 1908-09 season, she returned to La Scala to perform as Elena in Boito’s Mefistofele, with Feodor Chaliapin in the title role.

She continued to make guest appearances at major opera houses, including a performance at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo in 1909. Her career took her to prominent Italian theaters, as well as Spain and South America. In 1910, she performed at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, and the following year, she returned to La Scala in Aida, one of her signature roles.

From 1919 to 1928, she was a member of the Warsaw Opera and, after 1923, focused her career primarily in Poland. Her long career extended into 1938, when she still gave concerts. After retiring from the stage, she became a highly respected pedagogue in Kraków.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1908 Milano Teatro alla Scala Cristoforo Colombo (Iguamota)

1909 Madrid Teatro Reale Otello (Otello)

1910 Madrid  Teatro Reale Mefistofele (Elena)

1911 Siena Teatro della Lizza Mefistofele (Elena)

1912 Barcellona Teatro Liceo Mefistofele (Elena)

1920 Buenos Ayres Teatro Colon Tristano e Isotta (Isotta)

1920 Montevideo Teatro Solis Tristano e Isotta (Isotta)

1921 Rio de Janeiro Teatro Municipal Tristano e Isotta (Isotta)

1921 Torino Teatro Regio Tristano e Isotta (Isotta)

1921 Bologna Teatro Comunale Tristano e Isotta (Isotta)

1922 Parigi Teatro Champs Elysees Tristano e Isotta (Isotta)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi): La tra foreste vergine with Carlo Barrera 054254 1790c Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-21
2. Aida (Verdi): Morir, si pura e bella with Carlo Barrera 054255 1791c Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-21
3. Aida (Verdi): Rivedrai le foreste with Giuseppe Maggi 89152 1792c Victor, USA 1909-04-21
4. Ernani (Verdi): Ernani involami 53568 13110b Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-23
5. Forza del destino (Verdi): La vergine degli angeli w. chorus 053237 1807c Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-24
6. Aida (Verdi): Su del Nilo with Maria Cappiello, Giovanni Davi, Giuseppe Quinzi-Tapergi and chorus 89155 1808c Victor, USA 1909-04-27
7. Aida (Verdi): Immenso Fthа… O terra addio with Carlo Barrera and chorus 0542611809c Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-27
8. Stabat Mater (Rossini): Inflammatus 053250 1813c Gramophone, Milano 1909-04-27
9. Aida (Verdi): Fu la sorte dell’armi with Bianca Lavin de Casas 054272 1860c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-01
10. Aida (Verdi): Ebben, qual nuovo fremito with Bianca Lavin de Casas 054273 1861c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-01
11. Aida (Verdi): Pietаti prenda with Bianca Lavin de Casas 054276 1862c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-01
12. Aida (Verdi): Dessa! Ei si turba… Ohime di guerra with Lavin de Casas and Egidio Cunego 054274 1863c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-01
13. Gioconda (Ponchielli): L’amo come il fulgor del creato with Bianca. Lavin de Casas 054271 1864c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-01
14. Tosca (Puccini): Qual occhio al mondo with Egidio Cunego 054269 1866c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-02
15. Tosca (Puccini): Vissi d’rte Gramophone 053243 1865c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-02
16. Tosca (Puccini): Senti l’ora e vicina with Egidio Cunego 054270 1867c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-02
17. Tosca (Puccini): E non giungono with Egidio Cunego 54413, 13830b Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-02
18. Tosca (Puccini): Ora stammi a sentir… Non la sospiri with Egidio Cunego 054268 1868c Gramophone, Milano 1909-11-02
19. Halka (Moniuszko): Gdyby rannem slonkiem P.64657b 2-40036 Parlophon
20. Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 (Chopin) AA 53099  xxWa 84 Odeon
21. Lohengrin (Wagner): Weselny przebrzmial spiew with Stanislaw Gruszczynski Odeon