CAREERS OF LATVIAN OPERA SINGERS AT THE LATVIAN NATIONAL OPERA AND ABROAD IN THE 1920S AND 1930S

Abstract

The article focuses on the careers of Latvian opera singers in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly emphasizing Latvian pioneers on international opera stages and their followers during the interwar period which also performed in the Latvian National Opera. During the aforementioned decades due to different socio-historical circumstances, many Latvian opera singers strived to improve their vocal skills with professors in Italy, tried their chances in opera theatres abroad (mainly in Germany, but also in Russia and elsewhere) and some of them became artists with internationally acclaimed careers, extending their operatic career geographically as far as the USA and Australia. Naturally, the context of those performing overseas could be regarded as more exceptional cases rather than a trend, however, these personalities are important, but so far not as extensively researched.