Arthur Cavara (Artūrs Priednieks Cavara) (Tenor) (Libau 1901 – Gulfport, Florida 1979)

His real name was Artūrs Vilhelms Priednieks. Son of a worker, since 1924 he sang at the theatrical choir of Libau, where he also took over smaller solo parts. From 1927-31 he studied singing in Berlin, from 1935-37 in Vienna. He changed his name to “Cavara” in honor of his favorite role, Cavaradossi. He began his career in the 1928-29 season appearing at the opera houses of Barmen and Elberfeld. Then sang in the 1929-32 seasons at the Berlin State Opera, from 1932-33 at the The Deutsche Oper Berlin. In the 1935-36 seasons he performed at the Vienna State Opera. From 1936-39 he appeared at the opera house of Graz, at the same time made guest appearances at the Vienna Volksoper. In 1935 he appeared at the opera house of Vienna in the premiere of the operetta ‘’Dschainah’’ of Paul Abraham. In 1939 in Graz he sang in the premiere of the opera ‘’Gudrun’’ of Ludwig Roselius. In  the 1929-31 seasons he had big success at the Berlin Kroll Opera performing as Hoffmann in ''Hoffmanns Erzählungen'', Hans in Smetana's ''Verkaufter Braut'', Duke in ''Rigoletto'', Almaviva in ''Barbiere di Siviglia'', Gonzalve in ''L'Heure espagnole'' of Ravel, also in the premiere of the opera ''Neues vom Tage'' of Paul Hindemith (8. 6. 1929) and in the première of Janác|veks' ''Aus einem Totenhaus''. Since 1931 he also appeared at the Latvian National Opera in Riga with great success. He appeared there  as Alvaro in Verdi's ''Forza del destino'' (1931), Faust in Gounod's ''Faust'' (1932), Nadir in ''Pêcheurs de perles'' (1933) and in 1938 as Radames in ''Aida'' opposite known Latvian soprano Alida Vane in the title role. In the 1933-34 seasons he was engaged by the municipal theatre of Zurich, where on 14. 10. 1933 he took part in the premiere of the opera ''Der Kreidekreis'' of A. Zemlinsky. He also made guest appearance at the Grand Théâtre of Geneva. By the end of the World War II he went to Germany and performed as a concert singer. Then he emigrated to the USA, where gave a recitals and later was a respected pedagogue.

Chronology of some appearances

1928-1929 Barmen Opera House

1928-1929 Elberfeld Opera House

1929-1932 Berlin State Opera

1932-1933 Berlin Deutsche Oper

1935-1936 Vienna State Opera

1936-1939 Graz Opera House

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Artiphon, Berlin 1929-08?

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 03648

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola 03649

Artiphon, Berlin 1928-11?

Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida 03346

Artiphon, Berlin 1929-10

Land des Lächelns (Lehár) Immer nur lächeln 03872

HMV, København 1931-08-25

Lohengrin (Wagner): Da voi lontan EL1007 2T362

Lohengrin (Wagner): Cigno fedel EL1007 2T361

HMV, København 1931-08-26/30

Sadko (Rimsky-Korsakov): Song of the Indian Guest EK1084 0T373

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba EK1084 0T374

 HMV, København 1931-01-28/31

Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna e mobile EK1061 0T81

Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia EK1062 0T83

Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle EK1062 0T84

Traviata (Verdi): Brindisi EK1061 0T81

Grammophon, Berlin 1933-10?

Rigoletto (Verdi): Sie flieh'n mich? Wie grausam! with Neumann, Kandl, Berger, Batteux, Fleischer-Janczak & chorus 35004 686½BE8

Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Nur Scherze sind's und Possen with Kandl, Fleischer-Janczak, Berger, Ruziczka & chorus 35004 687½BE8

Bellaccord, Riga 1933/1934?

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba M3649 3315

Pescatori di perle (Bizet): Mi par d’udire ancora  M3648 3315

Santa Lucia (Cottrau) M4640 3745

Elegie (Massenet) M4047 3485

Maria, Mari (Di Capua) M4639 3745