Singing was something special for Jan Kiepura, he wanted to tie his future with him, but his father did not want to hear about the singing career of either Jan or his younger brother, Władysław. Franciszek Kiepura, a baker by profession, wanted his son to become a lawyer. Jan began the studies chosen by his father, but secretly also took singing lessons, on which he spent almost all his money. He got a job in the theater, but was fired after the first concert for insubordination.
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He had a fight with a friend. He suffered a nose injury that affected his career
Jan Kiepura was born on May 16, 1902. Already in his school days he sang in the choir. He devoted almost every free moment to music. Even in the bathroom, when other students went out for a cigarette, Kiepura sang. Because of this, his peers called him “Caruso”, referring to the figure of a well-known Italian tenor.
Singing was not Kiepura’s only occupation. He also attended sports classes, where he practiced football. He was also a scout. His activity on many levels did not interfere with his studies, earned high grades. His behavior was problematic, which could even be described as reprehensible.
Kiepura was a troublemaker, often getting into fights. During one quarrel, there were fisticuffs, as a result of which Kiepura was seriously injured. A student repositioned the cartilage of his nasal septum, which ruptured. It had its consequences. The future “king of tenors” then began his struggle with recurrent respiratory infections, which in turn translated into the sound of his voice. Kiepura began to fear that at some point he might even lose this voice. The fear of this was so strong that it did not leave him for the rest of his life.
Secret singing lessons. Kiepura was fired after the first concert
Kiepura in 1921, in accordance with his father’s will, began studying law in Warsaw. A trip to the capital gave him the opportunity to meet educated and experienced people from the world of music. His singing teacher was Wacław Brzeziński, who at that time was the first baritone of the Warsaw Opera. Kiepura spent all the money he earned on lessons with Brzeziński. After some time, the master stopped charging his apprentice. He ordered the young Kiepura to allocate funds for better clothes, above all for shoes and shoes, without which he could only dream of a singing career.
After three years, an important moment has come for Kiepura. Thanks to Brzeziński’s recommendation, he was admitted to the Grand Theater in Warsaw, where preparations were being made for the staging of Halka.. The young singer had a short solo at the head of the Górali choir, which he decided to extend. Not paying attention to the conductor’s instructions and requirements, he also fell in love with his co-stars. At that time, it was Kiepura’s first and last performance in the Warsaw theater. He was removed from the cast by director Emil Młynarski. In addition, he was expelled from law school shortly after.
Wasting four years of studying at the university caused a conflict with his father. Kiepura, without a job, apartment or studies, decided to go to Lviv. It was the right decision, because in the local opera he had the opportunity to present his vocal skills. In January 1925, Kiepura got the lead role in “Faust”. Both the audience and the critics were delighted with the singer’s voice. He was hailed as “the king of tenors”.
Kiepura’s foreign career. The musician tried his hand at the movie
Kiepura’s career slowly began to gain momentum. After an outstanding concert in Lviv, he went to Vienna, where he attracted the attention of Franz Schalk, an outstanding Austrian conductor, as well as the singer Maria Jeritza. Kiepura, alongside the prima donna, made his debut on the foreign stage in the play “Tosca” by Giacomo Puccini. After Vienna, he performed in Berlin, Brno, Prague and Budapest. In 1927, the time came for London and the Royal Albert Hall, a a year later at the famous La Scala in Milan. Kiepura performed there in Puccini’s Turandot. In 1929, in a monthly plebiscite, he was recognized as the third most popular singer in the world and the most popular in Poland.
How sad it is that Polish artists almost without exception have to look for fame abroad, because there is no place for them in the country
– said Kiepura himself in an interview from 1927, which is mentioned in the portal
His younger brother Władek was also passionate about singing. Jan wrote him letters, and in one of them he informed his brother that he should learn languages so that he could make a career abroad as well. Władysław Kiepura made his debut at the Krakow Opera. In 1932, he played the main character in “Faust”.
Jan Kiepura was not only an excellent singer, but also an actor. In the 1930s, he acted in films, which made him even more famous. What’s more, in almost every cinematographic work in which he starred, Kiepura performed one song in his native language. He performed, among others in such productions as “Naples, the Singing City”, “Song of the Night”, “Bohemian Charm” or “For You I Sing”. On the set of the latter film, he met his future wife, Marta Eggerth. The woman was an actress and singer of Hungarian descent. Although Kiepura swore that he would marry a Polish woman, after two years of acquaintance with Marta, who was 10 years his junior, he married her. It happened in October 1931.
Kiepura used part of the money he earned to build a villa in Krynica-Zdrój, which cost a staggering $3 million. In 1933, a boarding house “Patria” (meaning homeland) was opened there.. The singer wanted to express his attachment to Poland in this way. This place was like a home for Kiepura where he stayed when he came to Poland. The interior of the villa was very luxurious, arranged in the style of Swiss and Austrian hotels finished with marble and alabaster. “Patria” had elevators, central heating and a telephone switchboard, as reported by the portal . Among the guests of the hotel were great celebrities, including Halina Odronówna, Eugeniusz Bodo and Adolf Dymsza.
Opera singer in the barracks during World War II. Poland turned its back on Kiepura
When World War II broke out, Kiepura was in Paris. The man did not need a long moment to think – he quickly volunteered for the Polish army and became a soldier. His wife, in turn, served in the Polish Red Cross. After a month spent in the Kiepura barracks, he heard memorable words from the general.
We already have 100,000 soldiers who can shoot better, but none can sing better than you
– said the military man, whose statement is quoted by the portal
Kiepura was already famous in opera circles in many countries, which is why he decided to take advantage of it. He left for the United States, where he sang patriotic songs. He donated the money he earned and collected to the Polish Army. With his performances, he tried to draw the attention of the whole world to the tragedy that was taking place in the center of Europe.
This was not his only charity work. He supported students financially, donated money to flood victims from Krynica-Zdrój, and did not spare funds to help those in need. He also willingly performed at charity concerts. His activities for Poland, however, did not meet with the approval of the authorities that ruled the country on the Vistula River after the war. Unflattering articles about him appeared in the press, in which he was referred to as a “former Pole”, reproaching the Kiepura couple for accepting American citizenship. The villa in Krynica-Zdrój was also taken away from him and turned into a sanatorium. The final blow to Kiepura was refusing him a visa to come to Poland for his father’s funeral in 1951.
Kiepura loved opera and… money. “The Merry Widow” drew crowds
Singers were loved in the US even before the war, however, they attracted the biggest crowds in the 1940s when they staged “The Merry Widow” on New York’s Broadway. Kiepura was not only the lead actor, but also the producer of the show. He rented a theater on 44th Street, assembled a cast of singers and musicians for the orchestra, and, in addition, conducted rehearsals himself.
It was quite a risky undertaking – a lot of money had to be invested, and the competition in New York was, as it is now, very high. Everything could have ended up a flop. However, it turned out that this ‘element of risk’ became our additional asset and made (…) people wanted to see these ‘Broadway risk takers’, about whom so much was said
– recalled Marta Eggerth in an interview with Piotr Wiesław Grajda, quoted by the portal
The auditorium of the theater on 44th Street could seat 1,600 people. The show had a full audience almost every time. “The Merry Widow” was also presented in other theaters, where the Kiepuras could also count on selling out all seats, which were often more than in the place of the premiere. The performance was a phenomenon not only because of the history of the characters or Kiepura’s name, but also because of the Polish accent. In one of the scenes, Jan sang Wieniawski’s “Kujawiak” in Polish.
In the aforementioned conversation, Kiepura’s wife told about her husband’s love not only for the opera, but also for money.
It is often said that Kiepura loved money more than opera… Her husband was a singer, but he was also a great organizer and businessman. Among other things, thanks to this, we were able to stage ‘The Merry Widow’. (…) All costs were covered by us, because my husband knew how to take care not only of the artistic, but also the financial side of the project. This gave us artistic independence
– she said.
Kiepuras received a generous salary for concerts, but they donated a large part of the money they received to charity. They built schools, museums, helped emigrants and the poor in Poland, donated money to, among others, to the Polish Aid Fund. Despite their huge commitment to helping those in need, the couple did not boast about this activity, so not everyone knew about their great hearts.
Unfavorable authorities versus loyal fans. A great return to the homeland
The Kiepura couple returned to Poland after almost 20 years of absence, in 1958. At that time, the iron curtain was slowly rising, which is why Kiepura got permission from the Polish authorities to perform. The press continued to publish unflattering articles with unfavorable reviews, but Poles welcomed the singers with great enthusiasm. Kiepura sang for fans even from the balconies of the hotels where he stayed.
The man sang alongside his wife and was also the host of the show. It was not a classic concert, because Kiepura joked between the songs, told interesting stories, which endeared him even more to the audience. In this way, he showed his distance to himself and a great sense of humor. The Krakow concert was broadcast by Polish Radio.
Kiepura’s last concert. The coffin in the hall of the Grand Theatre
Kiepura gave his last concert on August 13, 1966 in Port Chester, United States. It was a special event because the performance was performed for American Polonia and only in Polish. Just two days later, the singer died suddenly of a heart attack in New York. On September 3, Kiepura’s body was transported to Poland by plane. On board were his wife and two sons who followed in their parents’ footsteps.
The coffin with Kiepura’s body was put on display in the hall of the Grand Theater so that Poles could say goodbye to him. The famous singer was buried in the Aleja Zasłużonych in Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery, in accordance with Kiepura’s wishes. About 200,000 people attended the last farewell. people.
In 1967, the first edition of the Festival of Jan Kiepura in Krynica-Zdrój. The guest of honor was the singer’s wife, Marta Eggerth. The creator of this cultural event, which takes place every year, is Stefan Pół Chłopek. By organizing the festival, the man wanted to commemorate the life and outstanding work of the “king of tenors”, whom he met in person.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
