Leo Slezak

Slezak as Otello "Otello" Verdi

Leo Slezak
1873-1946
Moravian Tenor

Took singing lesson from the baritone Adolf Robinson and later with Jean de Reszke . Debut in 1896 in Brno (Brünn) and proceeded to sing leading roles in Bohemia and Germany, appearing at Breslau and, in 1898-99, at Berlin. From 1901 onwards he was a permanent member of the Vienna State Opera's roster of artists,Slezak's International career commenced in London at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, where he sang Siegfried and Lohengrin in 1900. New York Metropolitan Opera in 1909. Met audiences acclaimed him in performances of works by Wagner and Verdi.Slezak had a versatile repertory which embraced 66 roles. They included notably Rossini's Guillaume Tell, Manrico, Radames, Walter, Tannhäuser, Hermann and, as we have seen, Otello and Lohengrin.