Blachut Beno, Červená Sonia: Titus, Requiem (2xCD) - CD

An exceptionally high quality interpretation of the work of W. A. Mozart from the 1950s
La clemenza di Tito
Opera seria in two acts K. 621, Libretto by Caterino Mazzol?, Czech translation by Jelena Holečková-Dolanská
Soloists: Beno Blachut, Marta Krásová, Sonia Red, Růžena Jelínková, Stanislava Součková, Jan Soumar and others
Recording of a radio broadcast from the Rudolfinum in Prague on 23 January 1956
Requiem
Funeral Mass for solo voices, choir, orchestra and organ K. 626 on the liturgical Latin text
Soloists: Beno Blachut, Libuše Domanínská, Nina Hazuchová, Eduard Haken
Recording of a radio broadcast from St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague on 2 June 1956
Interpreters:
The protagonist of both recordings is tenor Beno Blachut (1913-1985), from the era of Václav Talich for four decades, he was a leading soloist of the Prague National Theatre Opera, model Dalibor, Jeník, Luke, Prince, Dimitri, Ctirad and Laca, a convincing Florestan, Faust, Canio, José, Radames, Othello. He also created Mozart's Belmont and Basilio on stage.
The mezzo-soprano Soňa Červená (*1925), a proven representative of Cherubín and Dorabella, was invited from Brno. Her trajectory then took her through Berlin and Frankfurt to world stages from Bayreuth to San Francisco. She also became famous in the roles of Orfeo, Carmen and Clytaimnestra as well as in the most demanding contemporary concert repertoire.
Libuše Domanínská (*1924), a young dramatic soprano, came to Prague in 1955 from Brno. In the world repertoire it has made its mark as Fiordiligi, Agatha, Abigail, Micaela and Butterfly, but most often in Czech roles like Mařenka, Krasava, Julie, Rusalka, Eva. She was an exemplary representative of Janáček's characters - Jenůfa, Káti and Lišák.
German conductor Heinz Finger (1923-2005), at the time of the recording music and opera director in Weimar, from 1965 to 1988 head of the Osnabrück Symphony Orchestra. He advocated an informed interpretation of Schütz, Bach and Handel, as well as contemporary compositions. He also held the chair of conducting at the Franz Liszt University in Weimar.
Legendary bassist Eduard Haken (1910-1996), born in Volhynia and engaged to Prague by Václav Talich, created exemplary classical and comic creations for 50 seasons: Sparafucile, Philip II.., Gremin, Quixote, Pimen, The waterman and Basilio, Rocco, He was talking, Mumble. He also excelled in Mozart roles such as Osmin, Bartolo, Komtur and Sarastro.
The violist Nina Hazuchová (1926-2020), the daughter of Russian parents, worked from 1946 for 40 seasons in the opera of the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. She sang a wide repertoire from Cherubino and Fenena to Azucena and Carmen. She particularly impressed with her Eboli and Končakovna and in a number of operatic novelties. In Prague she created Olga and Amneris.
Soprano Růžena Jelínková (1917-2009) began her career in Prague at the 5. května Theatre, but then worked permanently in Olomouc. She reliably sang the Queen of the Night and Senta, all three roles in Hoffmann's stories, as well as Elsa, Marenka and Micaela. In spite of her exceptional qualities, she was a rare guest in Prague as Violetta and Donna Anna.
Conductor Václav Jiráček (1920-1966), a graduate of the master school of Václav Talich, also a pianist and composer, worked at the Opera of 5 May in Prague and then in Ostrava both at the Opera and the State Philharmonic. He has made a number of radio opera sets including Don Giovanni, The Bride of Messina, Armida, The Kingdom of Honza and War and Peace.
The highly acclaimed mezzo-soprano Marta Krásová (1901-1970) came to the National Theatre Opera from Bratislava under Otakar Ostrčil. Between 1928 and 1966, she created dozens of roles ranging from Orfeo to Ortrud and Azucena to Octavian. Her Czech creations - Isabella, Kostelnička and Kabanicha - were fully recognized. She also sang Mozart's Idamante.
The colouratura soprano Stanislava Součková (1923-1997), after ten years of operetta experience in Karlin, devoted all her energies to opera in České Budějovice. She sang Gretel, Karolina, Libuše and Rusalka and from Mozart's roles Constanze, Fiordiligi, Countess, Zerlina and Queen of the Night. She has also guest-starred in Prague as Rosina, Violetta and Amelie.
Baritone Jan Soumar (1926-1985) worked with Prague Radio from 1943 and was a soloist with the Army Art Ensemble and the Liberec Opera. He was almost exclusively devoted to concert singing, but he also sang in radio opera sets (Fidelio, Faust, Halka, A peasant cavalier, Bohemian, Dogheads, Armida, Jessica, Thumbelina, Zítek).