Emmy Destinn - great soprano - operatic legend

Memory on great czech soprano Emmy Destinn (1878 - 1930) - summary of its most famous operatic roles, additional vocals by the famous Czech soprano Gabriela Beňačková

Emmy Destinn (1878 - 1930)

Emmy Destinn (also Ema Destinnová, Czech pronunciation: [ˈɛma ˈdɛstɪnovaː] ( listen); February 26, 1878 -- January 28, 1930) was a renowned Czech operatic soprano.

Biography
Destinn was born Emílie Pavlína Věnceslava Kittlová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈɛmiːlɪjɛ ˈpavliːna ˈvjɛntsɛslava ˈkɪtlovaː]) in Prague, in what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

At first Destinn devoted herself to studying the violin, and intended to shine as a virtuoso on that instrument. When she was well on in her teens, however, her voice was so rich and full that she changed her mind and determined upon an operatic career.

Her voice teacher since age 13 had been Marie Maria von Dreger Loewe-Destinn, and the young singer began using her teacher's surname. She was let go after the short engagement at the Dresden Opera and declined by Prague National Theatre in 1897. Destinn debuted on July 19, 1898 at the Berlin Court Opera as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. She made such progress that the intendant of the Berlin Court Opera engaged her at once when she was brought to her notice. She was scarcely nineteen at the time, but her voice and her genius for acting soon won the Berlin public. Her engagement in Berlin lasted till October 27, 1909. She sang in 54 operas, including 12 premieres, the most famous of which was Salome by Richard Strauss (December 5, 1906).[1]

Her fame became international in 1901 when she was invited to sing the part of Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer at Bayreuth. She returned to sing the same role the next year.

Destinn made her Covent Garden debut at the Royal Opera House on May 2, 1904 as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. She appeared there in several operas for the next two seasons, including the London premiere of Madama Butterfly with Caruso. Her Metropolitan Opera debut came in 1908 with a performance of Aida, after she was released from her contract with the Berlin Court Opera. Two years later at the Met, she created the role of Minnie in the memorable premiere of Puccini's La fanciulla del West, again opposite Caruso, and under the direction of Arturo Toscanini.


Memorial of Emmy Destinn near TřeboňWhile she was successful in the lighter roles of the Wagner operas, her soprano voice was better suited to music of a more lyrical type. She excelled in the part of Carmen, in which she was said to rival Calvé.

Her career suffered a fatal blow in World War I. Destinn returned to her homeland after the start of the war, but her links with the patriotic Czech resistance caused her passport to be revoked. She was interned at her chateau for the remainder of the war. She returned to the Metropolitan Opera in 1919, but had been replaced by a new generation of singers, though she did still sing with the company until 1921.

Destinn returned to Czechoslovakia, where she married Joseph Halsbach, a Czech air force officer, in 1923. She retired from the stage in 1926 and died from a stroke in České Budějovice, Czechoslovakia. She is interred in the Vyšehrad cemetery in Prague.

She was very versatile and besides being a singer was a poet, novelist and playwright, though nothing she has done in other professions has rivalled her reputation as a singer.

Emma is immortalized on the 2,000 Czech Koruna banknote.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Emmy Destinn
• Carmen
• Aida
• La Boheme
• Madamme Butterfly
• Mimi
• Gabriela Beňačková
• Enrico CarusoBožská Ema
• český film
• soprano
• vocal music
• opera
• czech soprano
• operatic legend
• Božidara Turzonovová

[MorMoribundus]

Báječný film Božská Emma.... mám též :-) A když už jsme u toho - jestlipak jsi viděl "Lev s bílou hřívou" o Janáčkovi? :-))

A ještě k tématu - Beňačková je jedna z mých nejoblíbenějších... mám moc ráda i její Rusalku, Mařenku...

[AchillesValda]

@MorMoribundus Konečně jsem se dostal k tomu Lvovi s bílou hřívou! A něco jsem z toho vystříhal :-) Velmi pěkný film! Nemáš ještě nějaké další typy? :-)

[AchillesValda]

Ležím s horečkou v posteli a stahuju starou Prodanku z roku1922, to bude nářez! :-)

[Operalover77]

Benackova made only a few recordings because a Czech record company Supraphon did not allow her to make recordings with other companies abbroad. It means that during the communist period she had to cancel all the offers which she received. What a pity for operatic world. These are rare recordings from a famous Czech film. Brava, diva!

[AchillesValda]

@Operalover77 Wow, great knowledge :-) And I totally agree! This is a unique greatest opera recordings of "hits" that Beňačková unfortunately no opportunity to sing, either because of interference of the Communist Party or roles outside the field of voice (Carmen, Aida, Senta, at .)... exceptionally interesting and pasticco :-) and thanks for the great comment :-) !!!

[SevenSeasofGreenTea]

She is soooo amazing :) I can't believe I just learned from my Grandpa we are related to her

[MrCafiero]

It is an embarrassment to have this soprano portraying Destinn.

[MrCafiero]

She was the BEST!



[ArpiCZ]

Příšerně nesympaticlá herečka. Její povislý obličej a mdlý pohled ani trochu nepřipomínají rysy krásné a charakterní ženy Emy Destinnové.

[65attila]

An intersting video but Destinn did NOT record "O Soave Fanciulla" with Caruso or that awful tenor parodying the great tenor.

[paulostroff99]

Awesome! TY.