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Edouard De ReszkePolish singer, bass.
Date of Birth: 22.12.1853
Country:  Poland |
Content:
Biography of Edward de Reszke
Edward de Reszke was a Polish singer and bass. He gained fame for his incredible voice and highly impressive acting skills, making him one of the most outstanding European and American singers of the late Victorian era.
Early Life and Education
Edward de Reszke was born into a wealthy and educated family in Warsaw. It was in Warsaw that he began to explore the secrets of vocal art. He continued his studies in Italy under the guidance of renowned pedagogue Giovanni Sbriglia.
Opera Career
Initially, Edward was hesitant to become an opera singer, but his younger sister Josephine convinced him otherwise. He signed a contract with the Paris Opera and was chosen by Giuseppe Verdi for the role of Pharaoh in the first production of his opera 'Aida' in the city. Edward's debut performance took place on April 22, 1876.
Edward's older brother Jean de Reszke was also a well-known opera singer, and the two brothers frequently performed together in prestigious theaters in Paris, London, and New York City for the next 20 years. One of their most remarkable collaborations was their performance in the 500th production of Charles Gounod's opera 'Faust' at the Paris Opera.
Edward's sister Josephine also had a career in opera but retired from the stage at the height of her fame after getting married to an aristocrat. Their brother Victor de Reszke was also a singer but did not achieve the same level of fame.
During the period from 1880 to 1900, Edward de Reszke performed more than 300 times at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. He sang roles in French, German, and Italian operas by composers such as Richard Wagner, Giuseppe Verdi, Gioachino Rossini, Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, Amilcare Ponchielli, Charles Gounod, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Friedrich von Flotow, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Later Life and Legacy
Edward de Reszke was highly beloved by the audience of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. His only serious competitor at the time was the French singer Pol Plançon, although Plançon rarely performed Wagnerian roles.
In 1891, de Reszke sang in Chicago and from 1879 to 1881, he performed at La Scala in Milan. However, in 1903, he was forced to acknowledge that his once magnificent voice was significantly weakening. Rather than waiting for the complete loss of his voice, de Reszke decided to retire from the stage. He briefly taught vocal techniques in London before returning to Poland.
Unfortunately, Edward de Reszke's peaceful retirement was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I in Europe. The war separated him from his brother, and on May 25, 1917, he passed away in poverty in his home in Garnek, near Częstochowa.
Throughout his career, de Reszke only recorded three discs, which, upon closer inspection, were found to be of mediocre quality. These recordings were made in New York by the Columbia Phonograph Company. By that time, Edward's voice had significantly weakened due to his extensive and active performance schedule, as well as his less-than-healthy lifestyle choices.
