Edouard De Reszke by Pollock

as Athanael in Thaïs Massenet

EDOUARD DE RESZKE,

(22 December 1853 – 25 May 1917)
Polish bass

His voice studies in Italy with Giovanni Sbriglia, He was chosen by the composer Giuseppe Verdi to make his debut in the first Paris performance of Aida on 22 April 1876, appearing under the composer's baton as the King of Egypt.

Between the start of 1880 and the end of 1900, Édouard de Reszke appeared on more than 300 occasions at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, performing a wide range of roles in French, German and Italian operas, including works by Wagner, Verdi, Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Ponchielli, Gounod, Meyerbeer, Flotow and Mozart.

At New York's Metropolitan Opera during the same era. He also sang in Chicago in 1891 and, in 1879–1881, at La Scala, Milan. In 1903, he retired from the stage after his once superlative voice developed technical difficulties and went into a swift decline.

De Reszke taught singing for a while in London before returning to his estate in Poland,