Riavez José (Tenor) (Gradišče ob Soči 1890 – Belgrade 1959)

                                        Duke

His real name was Josip Rijavec. First he studied in Görz and Ljubljana, then in Vienna among other things under Franz Schreker and H. Graedener. He made his debut in 1916 at the Opera House of Zagreb in which he remained till 1926. He sang during this time as a guest at the opera houses of Belgrade and Ljubljana (Ljubljana). In 1926 he gmade guest appearance in Berlin and was engaged in the 1928-32 seasons by the Städtischen Oper Berlin. Guest performances led him in the 1931-32 season to the Vienna State Opera. Since 1931 with great success he was to be heard regularly at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Here he sang in 1931 the title role in the première of  I. Stravinsky's ''Oedipus Rex''. From 1932 to 1937 he belonged to the German Theatre in Prague, where he had one of his big success as Manrico in G. Verdi's ''Trovatore''. He made guest appearances at the Dresden State Opera (1927) and at the National Theatre of Prague (1929). As a concert singer he appeared among other things in Paris (1929), Hamburg (1936, 1937), Copenhagen (1932), and Budapest. In 1937 he returned in his native country, where he appeared more ten years at the opera houses of Zagreb, Belgrade and Ljubljana. Since 1948 he was a professor of the Belgrade Music Academy. His son Mario Rijavec became known as a conductor. His tenor was effective above all in the Italian repertoire.

Chronology of some appearances

1916-1926 Zagreb Opera House

1928-1932 Berlin Städtischen Oper

1931-1932 Vienna State Opera

1932-1937 Prague German Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Electrola
Boheme (Puccini): Che gelida manina E.H. 502 62-696
Carmen (Bizet): La fleur E.H. 502 62-697