Jean de Reszke

Jean de Reszke , 1850-1935, Polish singer. His voice, at first a baritone, developed into one of the finest tenors of the 19th cent. He first appeared as a tenor in Madrid in 1879, but it was after his debut (1884) at the Paris Opéra, where he created the leading roles in several of Massenet's operas, that he began to receive his greatest acclaim. Reszke sang (1888-1900) at Covent Garden, London, and from 1891 to 1901 was leading tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, New York City. From 1902 until his death he was a teacher in Paris. His brother, Edouard de Reszke, 1853-1917, a bass, made his debut in Paris in 1876, sang (1880-84) in London, and from 1891 to 1903 was a leading bass of the Metropolitan Opera Company.

Bibliography: See biography of J. de Reszke by C. Leiser (1934).

De Reszke, Jean [ Mieczyslaw, Jan] (b Warsaw, 1850; d Nice, 1925). Polish tenor, brother of Édouard de Reszke. Début (as bar. and as Giovanni di Reschi), Turin and London 1874 (singing Alfonso in La Favorite). His brother persuaded him he was really a ten. and after further study from 1876 he sang Robert le Diable in Madrid 1879. After 5 fallow years he had a great success in Massenet's Hérodiade (Paris, 1884) and Le Cid (1885). Sang Faust at 500th Paris perf. in 1887 (with Édouard as Mephistopheles). London début as ten. 1887; CG 1888, returning nearly every year until 1900. Amer. début Chicago 1891; NY Met 1891–1901. Late in career sang Wagner roles of Walther, Tristan, and Siegfried. Retired 1902, and taught in Paris and Nice. Regarded as one of greatest operatic tens.