JAN WIKTOR KIEPURA (SOSNOWIEC, POLAND, MAY 16, 1902 – NEW YORK, AUGUST 15, 1966)
He initially studied economics, then pursued singing in Warsaw under Wacław Brzeziński and Tadeusz Leliwa. He gave his first concert in Warsaw in 1923. In 1924, he made his stage debut at the Opera House of Lwów as Faust. He then sang in Warsaw and Poznań in 1925. In 1926, he performed with sensational success at the Vienna State Opera as Cavaradossi in Tosca, where the famous Maria Jeritza was heard in the title role. He had a similar success there as Kalaf in Turandot. He appeared regularly until 1928 and continued as a guest at the Vienna State Opera until 1939. There, he also participated in the 1927 Vienna premiere of Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane, partnering with Lotte Lehmann. In 1927, he made guest appearances at Covent Garden in London, the London Albert Hall, and the Casino of Deauville. In 1928, he sang the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca at the Grand Opéra in Paris. At Milan’s La Scala, he made his debut in 1928 as Kalaf in Turandot opposite Bianca Scacciati and Rosetta Pampanini.
In 1934, he made guest appearances at the Opéra-Comique in Paris as Rodolfo in La Bohème and as De Grieux in Manon, a role he had sung in 1931 at La Scala. He also appeared at the Berlin State Opera, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the São Paulo Opera, and the Chicago Opera, where he was engaged for the 1931-1932 and 1939-1942 seasons. His U.S. debut as Cavaradossi in Tosca took place in 1931. In 1938, he participated in the important premiere of the Polish national opera Halka by S. Moniuszko at the Chicago Opera. At La Scala, he sang in the premiere of the successful opera Le Preziose Ridicole by F. Lattuada on February 9, 1929, and later performed as De Grieux in Manon and Cavaradossi in Tosca in 1931.
In the 1930s, he increasingly turned to film, first in Germany, and later in Hollywood. He often performed with his wife, soprano Martha Eggerth, whom he married in 1936. In the 1938-1942 seasons, he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, appearing in 18 performances over three seasons. His roles included De Grieux in Manon, the Duke in Rigoletto, and Cavaradossi in Tosca. His final performance at the Metropolitan Opera was as José in Carmen in 1942. He performed across major U.S. opera and operetta venues and appeared on Broadway with Martha Eggerth for three years in a dazzling production of Lehár’s Die lustige Witwe. He was also celebrated in operetta in London and Vienna.
According to his wishes, he was buried in Warsaw after his death. His marriage to Martha Eggerth resulted in two sons: Jan Taddeusz Kiepura, who pursued a vocal career, and Marjan Kiepura, who became a pianist. His brother, Władysław Kiepura, had a successful stage career under the name Ladis Kiepura.
TRACKLIST
Aida (Verdi) Celeste Aida Odeon Odeon O-4708a
Boheme (Puccini) Che gelida manina Odeon 123824
Ich liebe Dich (Robert Stolz) Odeon O-4763
La chanson d’une nuit (Spoliansky) Odeon 166567
La Danza (Rossini) Odeon 166567
Les brunes, les blondes (Robert Stolz) Odeon 166993
Manon (Massenet) Flieh, o flieh, holdes Bild Odeon O-26127
Martha (Flotow) Ach so fromm Odeon 123824
Mein Herz ist voller Sonnenschein (Dénes v Buday) Odeon O-4739a
Musisz w te noch moja byc (Robert Stolz) Odeon O 236852
O sole mio (Di Capua) Odeon O-4739b
Rigoletto (Verdi) Freundlich blick ich Odeon O-9601a
Rigoletto (Verdi) O wie so trügerisch Odeon O-9601b
Tosca (Puccini) Mit deinen Augen with Lotte Lehmann Odeon O-9603a
Tosca (Puccini) Nur deinetwegen wollt ich noch nicht sterben with Lotte Lehmann Odeon O-9603b
Tosca (Puccini) Und es blitzten die Sterne Odeon Odeon O-9600b
Tosca (Puccini) Wie sich die Bilder gleichen Odeon O-9600a
Trovatore (Verdi) Stretta Lodern zum Himmel Odeon Odeon O-4708b
Turandot (Puccini) Keiner schlafe Odeon O-7536a
Turandot (Puccini) O weine nicht Liu Odeon O-7536b
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