Krâsovâ, Marta

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Krâsovâ, Marta

Krâsovâ, Marta, prominent Czech mezzo-soprano; b. Protivin, March 16, 1901; d. Vrâz u Berouna, Feb. 20, 1970. She studied with Olga Borovâ-Valouskovâ and Rûzena Maturovâ in Prague; then with Ullanovsky in Vienna. She began her career as a soprano at the Slovak National Theater in Bratislava (1922), but soon turned to mezzo-soprano roles. She made her debut at the Prague National Theater as Azucena (1926), then was one of its principal singers (1928-66); also made successful guest appearances in Hamburg, Dresden, Madrid, Paris, Moscow, and Warsaw; toured the U.S. in 1937. In 1935 she married Karel Boleslav Jirâk; they divorced in 1946. In 1958 she was made a National Artist. She achieved distinction for her roles in Czech operas; was also noted as a Wagnerian singer.

Bibliography

V. Šolín, M. K. (Prague, I960).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire