Arthur Cavara
16 (29) June 1901 Liepājā – 9 April 1979 Gulfport (Florida)
They don't make tenors like Cavara anymore; in fact, they haven't been making them for decades. Cavara is a prime example
of what's wrong with opera today.
True, he was no master of style and vocal technique like Schipa, no genius of individualistic interpretation like Kozlovskyj, his
tone was not the epitome of beauty like Beniamino Gigli's, he did not have the artistic seriousness of Faniard, the controlled
power and virtuosity of Sirota, the refinement of Vinogradov or the vocal compactness of Tudor Davies. His manner of showing
off what he had to offer (and that was a lot) adds a slightly provincial touch. From a 1930 point of
view, you might call him a B tenor. And in his time, there were so many wonderful singers
that he was actually a B tenor; his career was nice, but by no means spectacular.
But what a blessed age that had such brilliant B tenors! Cavara's singing is so committed and convincing, his voice so radiant,
his top so easy that it's a sheer joy to listen to him. And his repertory was incredibly wide and varied. After WWII, there
were exceedingly few tenors who could compete with
Cavara: Bonisolli. Moldoveanu. Perhaps Veronelli. Who else? And the 21st-century tenors, including the relatively best among
them, could not even be accepted as a member of a choir accompanying someone like Cavara.
Born Arturs Priednieks, he chose Cavara as his stage name because Cavaradossi was his favorite role. In Latvia, however,
and also on his Latvian discs, he was billed as Priednieks-Kavara (Kavara with K because Latvians would otherwise pronounce it
as Tsavara.)
Cavara was self trained when he made his debut in the opera choir of Liepājā in 1923. His debut as a soloist was
in 1926: he stepped in for a sick tenor as Riccardo. An attempt to get a contract at the Riga opera theater was unsuccessful,
so he went to Berlin for vocal studies in 1927. While studying, he sang in cinemas; but very soon, he was engaged to the
theater of Barmen-Elberfeld as a soloist. He continued his studies nonetheless until 1931 (and later studied again in Vienna,
from 1935 to 1937).
From 1929 (or 1928?) to 1931, he was at the Krolloper in Berlin, where he sang the main tenor roles in Les contes d'Hoffmann,
L'heure espagnole, Angélique by Ibert, Prodaná nevěsta, Krenek's Leben des
Orest, La muette de Portici, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Rigoletto,
Z mrtvého domu/From the house of the dead, and the world premiere of Hindemith's
Neues vom Tage (8 June 1929) with Stückgold, Krenn, Wirl, Kalter, and Ernster under Otto
Klemperer's baton.
He also sang at the Städtische Oper Berlin (1932/33) in Salome (Narraboth),
with Maria Németh and Hans Reinmar (premiere on 22 January 1933); Undine (Hugo von Ringstetten), with Gerhard
Hüsch (premiere on 16 August 1932); and Graf Ferraud in Oberst Chabert by Hermann Waltershausen,
with Hans Reinmar and Gerhard Hüsch on 4 March 1933.
From 1930 onwards, he sang regularly in Riga (Lohengrin, Alvaro, Faust, Alfredo, Rodolfo and many others) and
Liepājā (Lenskij, Manrico, Radames).
As a guest, he appeared in Vienna (both at the Volksoper and the Staatsoper, where he sang Riccardo, Cavaradossi, Rodolfo,
Manrico and Calaf in 1935), Graz (1938–40), Zürich (1933–34; world premiere of Zemlinsky's Kreidekreis in
1933), Geneva, and in 1936, he toured South America, where he was successful at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.
Further roles included Assad (Die Königin von Saba by Goldmark), Florestan, Laca in Její
pastorkyňa/Jenůfa, Lyonel, Osaka, Turiddu, Tamino, Sly, Nadir and Faust (La damnation de Faust).
Other than making lots of records (also with lots of popular music), he was also a favorite on the Latvian radio.
When the Soviets occupied Latvia in 1944, he fled to Germany, then emigrated to the United States, where he taught singing
and still gave concerts, but never again appeared on stage.
Reference
The details on Cavara's Berlin activities have been contributed by Guido Bathe.
| Arthur Cavara sings | Aida: Holde Aida
|
| transposed – one half-note upwards! |
| Arthur Cavara sings | Das Land des Lächelns: Immer nur lächeln
|
| another half-note transposition upwards |
| Arthur Cavara sings Un ballo in maschera: Nur Scherze sind's und Possen, |
| with Elsa Ruziczka-Tegetthoff, Felix Fleischer-Janczak, Eduard Kandl and Erna Berger |
Discography
Artiphon, Berlin 1928-06?
3164 Rigoletto: Freundlich blick' ich 3164, Audiphon 40114
3165 Tosca: Und es blitzen die Sterne 3165
3166 Tosca: Wie sich die Bilder gleichen 3166
3167 Carmen: Hier an dem Herzen 3167, Audiphon 40114
Artiphon, Berlin 1928-06/07
3204 Trovatore (Verdi): Dass nur für mich dein Herz erbebt 03204, Phonycord 131
3205 Martha (Flotow): Ach, so fromm 03205, Phonycord 45, Clangor M9190, Paloma K231
3206 Trovatore (Verdi): Lodern zum Himmel 03206
3207 Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend 03207, 9921, Phonycord 131
3218 Grüsst mir das blonde Kind am Rhein (Heiser) 03218, Phonycord 155
3219 Ein rheinisches Mädchen bei rheinischem Wein (Hoppe) 03219, Phonycord 155
3220 Vom Rhein der Wein (Brandt) 03220
3221 Der lachende Ehemann (Eysler): Fein, fein schmeckt uns der Wein 03221, 8438, Clangor M551
3222 Zarewitsch (Lehár): Willst du 03222, Audiphon 30109
3223 Der Lenz (Hildach) 03223, Phonycord 45
3224 Paganini (Lehár): Gern hab ich die Frau'n geküsst 03224, 8438, Phonycord 3, Brillant 171,
Clangor M552, Tempo 171
3225 O wunderreiche Nacht (Zeilbeck) 03225
Artiphon, Berlin 1928-07/08
7356 Africaine (Meyerbeer): Land so wunderbar 07356, Swisscord D501
7357 Faust (Gounod): Gegrüßt sei mir 07357, Swisscord D502
7358 Juive (Halévy): Recha, als Gott dich einst 07358, Swisscord D517
7359 Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land 07359, Swisscord D518
7370 Friederike (Lehár): O Mädchen, mein Mädchen 07370
7371 Friederike (Lehár): Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein steh'n 07371
Artiphon, Berlin 1928-11?
3335 Leise flehen meine Lieder (Schubert) 03335
3336 Ich liebe dich (Grieg) 03336
3343 Wien, Wien, nur du allein (Sieczynski) 03343
3344 Im Prater blüh'n wieder die Bäume (Stolz) 03344
3345 Élégie (Massenet) 03345, Elton 169
3346 Aida (Verdi): Holde Aida 03346
3347 Rigoletto (Verdi): O wie so trügerisch 03347, Hertie 800
Artiphon, Berlin 1928-12?
3457 Millions d'Arlequin (Drigo): Serenade 03457
3458 Maria Marì (Di Capua) 03458, Phonycord 3, Tempo 6061
3459 Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Es war einmal am Hofe von Eisenach 03459, 9984
3460 Contes d'Hoffmann (Offenbach): Ha, wie ist meine Seele entbrannt 03460, 9984
Artiphon, Berlin 1929-01/02
3626 Manon (Massenet): Flieh, o flieh 03626, Bu-Scha 1009
3627 Traviata (Verdi): Auf, schlürfet in durstigen Zügen 03627, Bu-Scha 1009, Phonycord 191
Artiphon, Berlin 1929-08?
3648 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Hüll dich in Tand 03648, Phonycord P80, 37
3649 Cavalleria rusticana (Mascagni): O Lola 03649, Phonycord P80, 37
Artiphon, Berlin 1929-10?
3872 Land des Lächelns (Lehár): Immer nur lächeln 03872, 9607, Phonycord 39,
Brillant 171, Tempo 171
3873 Land des Lächelns (Lehár): Dein ist mein ganzes Herz 03873, 9607, Phonycord 39
3892 Mignon (Thomas): Leb wohl, Mignon 03892
3893 Zauberflöte (Mozart): Wie stark ist nicht dein Zauberton 03893
3894 Zauberflöte (Mozart): Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön 03894
3895 Gioconda (Ponchielli): Himmel und Meer 03895
Artiphon, Berlin 1930-07?
11394 Traviata (Verdi): Ach, ihres Auges Zauberblick 11394, 8410
11395 Tosca (Puccini): Die zarten Hände 11395, 8410
11396 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Nein, bin Bajazzo nicht mehr 11396
HMV, Berlin 1930-10 (refrain singing by Cavara)
BD9128-1 Mātes sirds (My yiddishe momme) (Yellen/Pollack) EM72 (30-4803)
BD9128-2 d:o unpubl
BD9129-1 O Donna Klara (Peterburski) EM71 (30-4800)
BD9129-2 d:o unpubl
BD9130-1 Jel teic man to skaņās (Säg det i toner) (Sylvain) EM72 (30-4802)
BD9130-2 d:o unpubl
BD9131-1 Tu visu saldākā pasaule man (Du bist das süssestes Mädel) (Sylvain) EM71 (30-4801)
BD9131-2 d:o unpubl
BD9132-1 Zwei Herzen im 3/4 Takt (Stolz): Tu-ar mani pievilt reiz naksi EM70 (30-4798)
BD9132-2 d:o unpubl
BD9133-1 Zwei Herzen im 3/4 Takt (Stolz): Divas sirdis trisceturdal takti unpubl
BD9133-2 d:o EM70 (30-4799)
HMV, Berlin 1930-10-10
BD9134-1 Dreimäderlhaus (Schubert-Berté): a) Nac paklausties droudzin;
b) Lal man to ziedonis stasta EM69 (30-4796)
BD9134-2 d:o unpubl
BD9135-1 Land des Lächelns (Lehár): Tev pieder mana sirds no EM69 (30-4797)
BD9135-2 d:o unpubl?
Artiphon, Berlin 1930-12?
11914 Das Herrgottslied (Krausz): Ich bin verliebt, mein Edelweiss 11914
11915 Das Herrgottslied (Krausz): So wie du gibt's kein Mäderle mehr 11915
HMV, København 1931-01-28/31
0T79-1 My love parade (Schertzinger) EK1060
0T79-2 d:o unpubl
0T80-1 Liebling, mein Herz lässt dich grüßen (Heymann) EK1060
0T80-2 d:o unpubl
(Liliedahl: EK1060 only Teddy Petersens Orkester without singing, Kelly lists EK1060 as by Cavara)
0T81-1 Traviata (Verdi): Brindisi EK1061
0T81-2 d:o unpubl
0T82-1 Rigoletto (Verdi): La donna è mobile EK1061
0T82-2 d:o unpubl
0T83-1 Tosca (Puccini): Recondita armonia EK1062
0T83-2 d:o unpubl
0T84-1 Tosca (Puccini): E lucevan le stelle EK1062
0T84-2 d:o unpubl
0T85-1 Birze dziedāja šupla dziesmu (Kalninš) unpubl?
0T85-2 d:o EK1063
0T86-1 a) Pasaciņa (Šuberts); b) Aizver actinas un smaidi (Darzinš) EK1063
0T86-2 d:o unpubl?
(All sung in Latvian.)
Artiphon, Berlin 1931-01/02
12062 Schön ist die Welt (Lehár): Liebste, glaub an mich 12062, Tempo 6060
12063 Schön ist die Welt (Lehár): Schön ist die Welt 12063
HMV, Berlin 1931-03-03
0D215-1 Ja, wenn das Wörtchen 'Wenn' nicht wär' (Stolz) EK1064
0D215-2 d:o unpubl
0D216-1 Das Lied ist aus (Stolz) unpubl
0D217-2 d:o EK1064
0D218-1 Schön ist die Welt (Lehár): Liebste glaub an mich EK1065
0D218-2 d:o unpubl
0D219-1 Schön ist die Welt (Lehár): Schön ist die Welt EK1065
0D219-2 d:o unpubl
(All sung in Latvian.)
HMV, København 1931-08-25
0T359-1 Kur tu teci, gaīlīti mans (folk song) EK1080
0T359-2 d:o unpubl
0T360-1 Maigums un grēks (Medinš) unpubl
0T360-2 d:o EK1080
2T361-1 Lohengrin (Wagner): Lohengrīna atvadīšanās (Mein lieber Schwan) unpubl
2T361-2 d:o 32-2393, EL1007
2T362-1 Lohengrin (Wagner): Grāla stāsts (In fernem Land) unpubl
2T362-2 d:o 32-2394, EL1007
2T363-1 Aida (Verdi): Dieviška Aīda (Celeste Aida) EL1008
2T363-2 d:o unpubl
2T364-1 Juive (Halévy): Rahel, no debess tu (Rachel, quand du seigneur) unpubl
2T364-2 d:o EL1008
HMV, København 1931-08-26/30
0T366-1 Man gribas mirt (Vorrei morire) (Tosti) unpubl
0T366-2 d:o EK1081
0T367-1 Lai tev, tu masigais draugs (Lass dir, du zarter Freund) (Rubinstein) unpubl
0T367-2 d:o EK1081
0T368-1 Orphée aux enfers (Offenbach): Kad biju Arkadijas keninš EK1082
(Quand j'étais roi de Boétie)
0T368-2 d:o unpubl
0T369-1 Tā debess izteic tā Mužīgā speku (Die Himmel rühmen) (Beethoven) EK1083
0T369-2 d:o unpubl
0T370-1 Augšā aiz zvaigznēm (Über den Sternen) (Abt) unpubl
0T370-2 d:o EK1083
2T371-1 Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Reiz mēnesnicas zaigā (Je crois entendre) unpubl
2T372-1 Carmen (Bizet): Zieds, kuru manim kādreiz devi (La fleur) unpubl
2T372-2 d:o unpubl
0T373-1 Sadko (Rimskij-Korsakov): Nav skaita dimantiem (Ne schest almazov) unpubl
0T373-2 d:o EK1084
0T374-1 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Smejies, Pajaco! (Vesti la giubba) unpubl
0T374-2 d:o EK1084
0T375-1 Ein Walzertraum (Straus): Vēl klusi telpā sapnis šis san unpubl
(Leise, ganz leise)
0T375-2 d:o EK1082
0T376-1 Lauj ēnai man tik tavai but (Rath) (as refrain singer) EK1085
0T376-2 d:o unpubl?
Polydor/Grammophon, Berlin 1933-06
686BE8 Rigoletto: Sie fliehen mich (Partite, crudele) unpubl
with Karl August Neumann, Hans Batteux, Felix Fleischer-Janczak,
Eduard Kandl and Erna Berger
(by the way, the only recording I've ever seen of the important comprimario Batteux)
686½BE8 d:o 35004, Decca CA8168
687BE8 Ballo in maschera (Verdi): Nur Scherze sind's und Possen unpubl
with Eduard Kandl, Felix Fleischer-Janczak, Erna Berger
and Else Ruziczka
687½BE8 d:o 35004, Decca CA8168
Bellaccord, Riga 1933
M3266 Ik diena bez tevis (Ein Tag ohne dich) (Rebner) 4001
M3268 Gribu precēties (Ich möchte heiraten) (Krausz) 4001
Bellaccord, Riga 1934
M3550 Skumjas (Okolo-Kulaks) 3270, Rīgas 29806
M3551 Mīļākā, tu mana laime (Okolo-Kulaks) 3270, Rīgas 29807
M3648 Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet): Reiz mēnesnicas zaigā (Je crois entendre) 3315, 82
M3649 Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Smejies, Pajaco! (Vesti la giubba) 3315, 82
M3650 Tam, kas jauns ir (Wenn du jung bist, gehört dir die Welt) (May) 3313
M3651 Tiritomba (folk song) 3313
M3739 Balodis (La paloma) (de Yradier) 3351
M3740 Mana saule ('O sole mio) (Di Capua) 3351, Rīgas 28848
M3757 Drei Musketiere (Benatzky): Ja tev sirdi cits (Wenn du treulos bist) 3352, Rīgas 28842
????? Ļauj tevi mūžam mīlēt (Okolo-Kulaks) ????
Bellaccord, Riga 1935
M3840 Ar dziesmām dzīvē mēs ejam (Marsh vesjolykh rebjat) (Dunaevskij) 3401, Rīgas 28840
M3841 Sirds (Serdtse) (Dunaevskij) 3401, Rīgas 28841
Bellaccord, Riga 1936
M4044 Dschainah (Abraham): Nav laimes bez mīlas (Ohne Liebe kann mein Herz) 3484, Rīgas 28843
M4045 Dschainah (Abraham): Es vēlos Tevi skūpstīt (Ich möchte so gern) 3484
M4046 Jocelyn (Godard): Zem nakts spārniem (Cachés dans cet asile) 3485
M4047 Eleģija (Massenet) 3485, Rīgas 28849
Bellaccord, Riga 1937
M4461 Tevi mīlu es (Ich liebe dich) (Stolz) 3664, Rīgas 29804
M4462 Klusi, sirds (Weine nicht) (Stolz) 3664, Rīgas 29805
Bellaccord, Riga 1938
M4639 Ak Marī (Maria Marì) (Di Capua) 3745, Rīgas 28848
M4640 Santa Lučija (Cottrau) 3745, Rīgas Līgo 29946
Live recording
Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss), complete recording
Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, 20 September 1936
Fritz Busch (conductor); Aleksandr Kipnis (Ochs), Germaine Hoerner (Marschallin), Editha Fleischer (Sophie),
Tiana Lemnitz (Octavian), Fritz Krenn (Faninal), Arthur Cavara (italienischer Sänger)
CD: Marston 53005-2 (3 CDs)
Reference for the discography: Robert Johannesson's 78opera.com (alas defunct), Russian Records, Europeana, Marston Records
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