Tribute to Menzinsky & Krushelnytsky

A concert dedicated to tenor Modest Menzinsky, who was born 150 years ago, and his friend soprano Solomija Krushelnytsky, stage partners and two of the brightest opera stars of the early 20th century. Both were born in Galicia in western Ukraine and trained at the Lviv Conservatory, where they studied with the singing teacher Valeriy Vysotsky. They corresponded with each other and Menzinsky used to call Krushelnytsky »my godmother in art«.

Modest Menzinsky (1875–1935) studied with Julius Stockhausen in Frankfurt and then received a contract at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, where he sang the major Wagner roles and received several awards, including the Order of Vasa. He married the Swedish Klara Degn and had two children. Menzinsky celebrated great artistic triumphs during his career and sang on the leading stages of Europe before retiring and returning to Sweden, his second homeland, where he worked as a singing teacher until his death.

Solomija Krushelnytsky (1872–1952) was a unique talent, active as an actress, singer and musician. At the age of 25, she became prima donna at the Warsaw Opera and then conquered the major world stages. It was she who saved Puccini's Madama Butterfly, which became a success when she took over the title role after the acclaimed premiere at La Scala. Krushelnytsky was considered the world's foremost opera singer. »At the beginning of the 20th century, the world's opera stages were dominated by four male opera singers: Caruso, Battistini, Chaliapin and Titta Ruffo. Only one woman managed to reach the same heights as them. That woman was Solomija Krushelnytsky«, wrote the famous critic Rinaldo Cortopassi.

All excess proceeds go to the Ukrainian Institute.

With

Sofia Soloviy, soprano
Luthando Qave, baritone
Martin Hellström & Zhanna Mykytka, piano
Nils Göran Olve, presenter

Presented in collaboration with the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden.