Description

TADEUSZ LELIWA (TEPLIK, UKRAINE, 19 JULY, 1875 – WARSAW, POLAND, 19 NOVEMBER, 1929)

 

 

 

 

Wincenty Tadeusz Kopystyński, known professionally as Enzo Leliva, was a distinguished Polish tenor with a diverse and international career. Born into a scholarly environment, he initially pursued medicine at the University of Kiev and later studied law at the University of Warsaw. However, his passion for music led him to take singing lessons with Mrs. Massini, followed by advanced studies under A. W. Aleksandrowicz in Warsaw, Jean de Reszke in Paris, and A. Brogi in Italy.

Leliva made his operatic debut in 1901 at the opera house in Saratov, Russia. His talents were soon recognized, and he secured a position at the Kiev Opera before being invited to the Warsaw Opera Theatre, where he debuted in 1902 as Radames in Verdi’s Aida. His time in Warsaw was marked by performances in key roles such as the Duke in Rigoletto, Alfredo in La Traviata, Enzo in La Gioconda, Fernando in La Favorita, and Hermann in The Queen of Spades. He also starred in the title roles of Mazeppa by Münchheimer and Chopin by Orefice.

Leoncavallo, impressed by his performance in Warsaw, invited him to Italy, where Leliva made his Italian debut in 1904 as Milio in Zazà at the Teatro Regio in Turin. His Italian career flourished with appearances in Naples, Turin, Palermo, and Genoa, and he performed the role of Jontek in the Italian premiere of Moniuszko’s Halka at the Teatro Lirico in Milan.

Leliva’s international career took him to the stages of St. Petersburg, Kiev, La Scala in Milan, Mexico City, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. In 1909, he made a successful debut at Covent Garden in London, performing as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and Canio in Pagliacci alongside the renowned soprano Emmy Destinn.

His American debut followed in the same year, with performances in Boston, Chicago, and New York, where he showcased his talent in roles like Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana and Alfredo in La Traviata. From 1910 to 1912, Leliva performed extensively in Poland and Russia before returning to Italy in 1913 for engagements in Bologna and Genoa.

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Leliva returned to Poland, where he continued to perform, particularly in concerts. He concluded his operatic career in 1919 with a final performance in Halka in Kiev. After retiring from the stage, Leliva dedicated himself to teaching in Warsaw, where one of his most famous pupils was the legendary tenor Jan Kiepura.

Enzo Leliva’s career was marked by his powerful voice and his ability to captivate audiences across Europe, the Americas, and Russia, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of opera.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1904 Milano Teatro Lirico Zaza (Millo)

1906 San Pietroburgo Teatro Aquarium Ugonotti (Raoul)

1906 Brescia Teatro Grande Tristano e Isotta (Tristano)

1906 Torino Teatro Regio Loreley (Walter)

1906 Torino Teatro Regio Dannazione di Faust (Faust)

1906 Palermo Teatro Massimo Loreley (Walter)

1907 Cittа del Messico Teatro Arbeu Ballo in maschera (Riccardo)

1907 Cittа del Messico Teatro Arbeu Tannhauser (Tannhauser)

1907 Cittа del Messico Teatro Arbeu Ugonotti (Raoul)

1908 Genova Politeama Genovese Pagliacci (Canio)

1909 Boston Opera House Cavalleria rusticana (Turiddu)

1909 Boston Opera House Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1909 Boston Opera House Pagliacci (Canio)

1910 Chicago Auditorium Carmen (Don Jose)

1910 Chicago Auditorium Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1910 Chicago Auditorium Pagliacci (Canio)

1910 Pittsburgh Teatro Nixon Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1910 St. Louis Teatro Odeon Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)

1910 St. Louis Teatro Odeon Pagliacci (Canio)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Plus blanche 3-22794 7032L Gramophone, Warszawa 1908
2. Krakowiak (Moniuszko) 39133 XPh 142 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-02
3. Lohengrin (Wagner) Di non t’incantan 92412 XPh 3612 Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-07
4. Manru (Pederewski) Come al sol cocente 39034 XPh 77 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-12-11
5. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Dall’alba tinto 92413 XPh 3707 Fonotipia, Milano 1908-12-01
6. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Vesti la giubba12002a Ro486 Odeon
7. Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky) Cos’è la vita 92415 XPh 3743 Fonotipia, Milano 1908-12-05
8. Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky) Ma se il tuo cuore 92416 XPh 3724 Fonotipia, Milano 1908-12-03
9. Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky) Mistero 92414 XPh 3738 Fonotipia, Milano 1908-12-04
10. Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky) Perdona a me 39928 XPh 2275 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-12-11
11. Pique Dame (Tchaikovsky) Perdona a me 92417 XPh 3676 Fonotipia, Milano 1908-11-25
12. Rigoletto (Verdi) La donna e mobile 85244 Columbia, Warszawa 1904
13. Roland von Berlin (Leoncavallo) Io son il re della ballata 39061 XPh 107 Fonotipia, Milano 1904-12
14. Stelle cadenti (de Leva) 39126 XPh 148-2 Fonotipia, Milano 1905-02
15. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 12001 a Ro 488 Odeon 1900-01-01
16. Traviata (Verdi) Brindisi Columbia 35248 25248-1, 1904
17. Ugonotti (Meyerbeer) Bianca al par 39926 XPh2278 Fonotipia, Milano 1906-12-12