Stefan Belina-Skupiewski (Tenor) (Kiev, Ukraine 1885 – Gdansk, Poland 1962)

                                                              Radames

                                                               Faust

He studied singing under Jacques Stückgold in Berlin and with Felix Mottl in Munich. He began his career as baritone at the Municipal Theatre of St. Gallen appearing as Tonio in ‘’Pagliacci’’ (1908). In 1910 he changed to tenor and was engaged in the 1911-12 season by the Munich Court Opera, from 1912-15 he appeared at the German Theatre in Prague. In 1914 he went on tour in Odessa, Kiev, Charkov and St. Petersburg. On 2. 6. 1922 he sang at Grand Opéra in Paris in the premiere of Stravinsky’s opera ‘’Mavra’’in the part of hussar. In 1923 Arturo Toscanini obliged him for the Teatro alla Scala; here he sang under the name Stefano Bielena the role of Tristan in ‘’Tristan und Isolde’’ and Don José in ‘’Carmen’’. In 1924 he travelled around South America and gave guest performances in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Montevideo. In 1925 and 1928 he appeared at the Teatro Real in Madrid, in 1927 at the opera houses of Belgrade and Zagreb, in 1926 he sang at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, in 1928 at the Teatro Liceo of Barcelona. In 1923 and 1924 he appeared at the Grand Theatre of Warsaw. In 1925 he performed at the Opera House of Lwów (Lvov). In 1927 he created for Paris the title role in ‘’Oedipus Rex’’ of Stravinsky. Among his best roles were Tamino in ‘’Magic flute’’, Faust in Gounod’s ‘’Faust’’, Hofmann in ‘’Les contes d'Hoffmann’’, Eleazar in ‘’La Juive’’ of Halévy, Julien in ‘’Louise’’ of Charpentier, Alfredo in ‘’La Traviata’’, Radames in ‘’Aida’’, Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, Canio in ‘’Pagliacci’’, Rodolfo in ‘’La Bohème’’, Cavaradossi in ‘’Tosca’’. After the Second World War in 1946 he became director of the Silesian Opera in Bytom which he led till 1953. Since 1953 he was manager of the Baltic Opera in Gdansk and professor of the Gdansk Music Academy. He was married the singer Helene Ivoni.

Chronology of some appearances

1908 St. Gallen Municipal Theatre

1911-1912 Munich Court Opera

1912-1915 Prague German Theatre

1922 Paris Grand Opéra

1923 Milan Teatro alla Scala
1925 Madrid Teatro Real

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Odeon, Berlin 1913-09/12

Così fan tutte (Mozart): Der Odem der Liebe erfrischet die Seele AA57202 xxBo6248

Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart): Wenn der Freude Tränen fliessen AA57204 xxBo6252

Odeon, Berlin 1914-01?

Mignon (Thomas): Wie ihre Unschuld auch sich das Gefühl verhehlte AA57051 xxB5953

Zauberflöte (Mozart): Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön AA57053 xxB5954

Aida (Verdi): Holde Aida AA57055 xxB5965