Description

VLADIMIR ROSING (ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, JANUARY 23, 1890 – SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, NOVEMBER 24, 1963)

Born into a Jewish family, Rosing initially studied law at St. Petersburg University before deciding to pursue a singing career. He studied voice privately with the renowned Ioakim Tartakov and made his debut in 1910, performing in a concert alongside the famous violinist Jascha Heifetz. Rosing soon moved to Europe to further his vocal studies with esteemed teachers such as Sir George Power in London, Giovanni Sbriglia, and Jean de Reszke in Paris.

Rosing’s operatic debut occurred at the Theater of Musical Drama in St. Petersburg in 1912, where he performed the role of Triquet in Eugene Onegin. He later took on more significant roles at the theater, including Lensky in Eugene Onegin, the Pretender in Boris Godunov, and Walther von Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He performed alongside prominent singers like Lydia Lipkovskaya and Maria Davidova.

Rosing’s international breakthrough came in 1913 with a sensational debut at London’s Albert Hall, where he performed with soprano Alice Verlet and violinist Mischa Elman. His London career flourished, and by 1914 he had become the director of the London Opera House. Between 1913 and 1921, Rosing gave 104 recitals in London, cementing his status as one of the era’s leading tenors. He also performed at prestigious venues such as the Drury Lane Theatre in London during the 1915-1916 season.

In 1921, Rosing joined the Car Rosa Opera Company and sang the role of Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca. That same year, he made his Parisian debut at the Opéra-Comique, where he performed in operas such as The Queen of Spades (as Hermann), Pagliacci (as Canio), Faust (as Faust), and Carmen (as Don José). His guest performances extended to Brussels’ Théâtre de la Monnaie and Madrid’s Teatro Real.

Rosing relocated to the United States in 1921, where he continued his successful career, performing in Chicago and New York. He retired from the stage in 1930 but remained active in the musical world. His powerful, metallic, baritonal tenor voice was widely appreciated, particularly for his concert work. Rosing also contributed to the promotion of Russian music, organizing concerts in Liverpool in 1916 with conductor Vassily Safonov.

In addition to his singing career, Rosing was a producer. In 1936, he co-founded a company for British operas in London with Albert Coates. Later, in 1939, he became the director of the California Opera Association in Los Angeles.

TRACKLIST

1. Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle (It) 4-22387 16560b Gramophone, 1912-05
2. Werther (Massenet): Pourquoi me réveiller?  4-22386 16561b Gramophone, 1912-05
3. Spanish serenade (Rechkunov) 4-22447 17069b Gramophone, 1912-11-30
4. We sat together (Tchaikovsky) 4-22448 17070½b Gramophone, 1912-11-30
5. Cradle song (Gretchaninov) 4-22449 17072b Gramophone, 1912-11-30
6. Virtus antiqua (Glinka) 4-22450 17078b Gramophone, 1912-12-03
7. I wish I were with thee (Gretchaninoff) 4-22589 Ho728ab HMV, London 1913-07-03
8. O give me the night (Bagrinovsky) 4-22588 Ho726ab HMV, London 1913-07-03
9. Nature morte (Jakobson); Hebrew song (Glinka) 4-22674 Ho725ab HMV, London 1913-07-03
10. May Night (Rimsky-Korsakov): Levko’s aria 4-22617 ak16845e HMV, London 1913-07-31
11. Autumn (Tcherepnin) 4-22618 ak16849e HMV, London 1913-07-31
12. Do not believe (Petrov) 4-22613 ak16848e HMV, London 1913-07-31
13. Mattinata (Leoncavallo) (It) 4-22675 ak16846e HMV, London 1913-07-31
14. Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky): Forgive me, bright celestial vision 2-022000 HMV, London 1915-05-23
15. Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky): If ever you knew 2-022001 Ho835ac HMV, London 1915-05-23
16. Martha (Flotow): M’appari A-0233 01248 Vocalion, London 1919-07?
17. Roméo et Juliette (Gounod): Ah, lève-toi, soleil A-0233 01849 Vocalion, London 1920-06?
18. Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia A-0103 Vocalion, London
19. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba A-0205 Vocalion, London
20. Africana (Meyerbeer): O paradiso A-0169 Vocalion, London
21. Trovatore (Verdi): Di quella pira A-0205 Vocalion, London
22. Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of the Indian Guest A-0189 Vocalion, London
23. Price Igor (Borodin): Prince Vladimir’s Cavatina A-0159 Vocalion, London
24. The Meistersingers (Wagner): Prize song A-0153 Vocalion, London
25. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): No, pagliaccio non son A-0223 Vocalion, London