Description

MODEST MENZINSKY (NOWOSIOLKI, GALIZIEN, 29 APRIL, 1875 – STOCKHOLM, 11 DECEMBER, 1935)

 

 

 

 

He was the son of a Russian Orthodox priest. Initially studying theology at the University of Lwów (Lvov), he later pursued singing with Walery Wysocki in Lwów. From 1899 to 1903, he continued his education with Julius Stockhausen in Frankfurt am Main. He made his debut in 1901 at the Opernhaus Frankfurt as Lyonel in Martha.

During the 1902-1904 seasons, he performed at the Stadttheater in Elberfeld. From 1904 to 1910, he was a member of the Royal Opera in Stockholm, where he sang in the premières of R. Wagner’s Siegfried and Götterdämmerung in 1905 or 1907.

He was engaged by the Opernhaus Cologne from 1910 to 1926, making successful guest appearances at the Hofoper in Vienna and Covent Garden in London. On February 11, 1909, he appeared at the Opernhaus Lwów in the premiere of Lubomir Różycki’s Bolesław Śmiały (Bolesław the Brave). On March 27, 1924, he performed at the Opernhaus Cologne in the premiere of Franz Schreker’s Irrelohe.

He retired from the stage in 1926, making his final appearance in Cologne as Eleazar in La Juive by Halévy. After retiring, he lived in Stockholm, where he continued to give concerts and worked as a vocal pedagogue.

 

 Chronology of some appearances

 

1901 Frankfurt a. M. Opernhaus

1902-1904 Elberfeld Stadttheater

1904-1910 Stockholm Royal Opera

1910-1926 Cologne Opernhaus

 

TRACKLIST

 

  

1. Siegfried (Wagner): Nothung! Neidliches Schwert Gramophone 042249 446m
2. Die Walküre (Wagner): Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond Gramophone 042250 447m
3. Otello (Verdi): Ora e per sempre addio in Swedish Gramophone 4-42395 1908y
4. Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stele Gramophone 4-42396  1909y
5. Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan Gramophone 042269 188z
6. Martha (Flotow): Ach, so fromm Gramophone 042271 190z
7. La Juive (Halevy): Rachel, quand du Seigneur (in Polish) Gramophone 022165 191z
8. Die Jüdin (Halevy): Als Gott in seiner Huld Gramophone 042272
9. Die Zauberflöte (Mozart): Dies Bildnis Gramophone 042273 193z
10. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend Gramophone 042270 194z
11. Othello (Verdi): Gott! Warum hast du gehauft Gramophone 042303 2263c
12. Trovatore (Verdi): Dass nur für mich Gramophone 4-42486 15569b
13. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): Wohin nun Tristan scheidet Gramophone 042317
14. Rienzi (Wagner): Allmächt’ger Vater, blick herab Gramophone 042318 2265c
15. Mynajut dni – mynajut notschi (Lysenko) Gramophone 022203 2261c
16. Ой зійди, зійди, ясен місяцю Gramophone 222188 1885 1910-1911
17. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Nein, bin Bajazzo nicht mehr! Gramophone 042304 2266c