Forgotten Opera Singers

Forgotten Opera Singers

Apr 16, 2015

Alice Guszalewicz (Soprano) (Budapest, Hungary 1879 - München, Germany 1940)



                                                                 Salome

In 1896 she married to tenor Eugene Guszalewicz (1867-1907) and was trained by her husband. In 1903 she began her stage career at the Theater in Bern, Switzerland. In 1905 she appeared at the Opernhaus of Cologne in C. Goldmark’s ‘’Königin von Saba’’ and ‘’Tristan und Isolde’’ by R. Wagner. She remained a member of the Cologne Opera till 1916 and gave during this time a numerous guest performances at the leading operatic stages. In 1905 she made guest appearance at the Hoftheater in Karlsruhe. In 1907 she sang at the Opernhaus in Düsseldorf, the next year at the Stadttheater in Bremen. In 1908 she guested at the Hofoper in Dresden as Salome written by R. Strauss and achieved here, as well as at the other opera houses, in this part a sensational success. She also made guest appearances at the Opernhaus in Leipzig (1908), at the Hoftheater in Wiesbaden (1910, as Salome), at the Hoftheater in Berlin (1911, as Brünnhilde and Isolde), at Brussels, Paris and Madrid. In 1905 she appeared in Cologne in the German première of I. de Lara’s Oper ‘’Messalina’’ (in the title part) with great success. Her stage repertoire included Leonore in ‘’Fidelio’’, Adriano in ‘’Rienzi’’, Venus in ‘’Tannhäuser’’, the title part in ‘’Ingwelde’’ of M. von Schillings, Elektra by R. Strauss, Bertha in ‘’Il Profeta’’ of G. Meyerbeer, Santuzza in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, the title part in P. Mascagni’s ‘’Amica’’ and Maria in ‘’A basso porto’’ by N. Spinelli. After her stage career, she was active in Munich as vocal pedagogue. One of her pupils was her daughter Genia Guszalewicz (1902-71), who became a successful opera singer like her mother.

Chronology of some appearances

1903 Bern Opernhaus
1905 Karlsruhe Hoftheater
1907 Düsseldorf Opernhaus
1908 Bremen Stadttheater
1908 Dresden Hofoper
1908 Leipzig  Opernhaus
1910 Wiesbaden Hoftheater
1911 Berlin Hoftheater
1905-1916 Cologne Opernhaus

RECORDINGS FOR SALE










Zonophone, Wien 1902?
Du mein Gedanke (Grieg) 23000
Ave Maria (Gounod) X-23005

Edison 4-min cylinders, Berlin 1911-08?
Fidelio (Beethoven): Komm, Hoffnung BA 26158 15196

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