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Karel Kalaš | |
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| Born | (1910-10-09)9 October 1910 |
| Died | 3 May 2001(2001-05-03) (aged 90) |
| Occupation | Opera singer (bass) |
| Years active | 1934–1972 |
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Karel Kalaš (9 October 1910 – 3 May 2001) was aCzechoperaticbass andfilm andtelevisionactor. He first rose to prominence at theSlovak National Theatre, where he was a member from 1934 through 1939. He left there to join the roster of principal singers at theNational Theatre inPrague, where he worked until his retirement from the opera stage in 1972.[1] He appeared in a handful of films and occasionally on Czech television during his career, notably winning acclaim for his portrayal of a retired opera singer in the 1978 filmKulový blesk.
Kalaš's voice is preserved on a large number of recordings made on the Ultraphon, Esta, Bruno, Multisonic, and Urania labels. He also appeared on a number of complete opera recordings with the Prague National Theatre on theSupraphon label.[1]
Born inVienna,Austria-Hungary to parents of Czech descent, Kalaš initially worked for a printing business in his native city. During this time he began studying singing privately withFerdinand Pagin. He began his career singing in choirs in Vienna but was unable to land work as a soloist with any of the theatres in the city. Discouraged, he decided that he would try to find employment in his parents' homeland and moved toCzechoslovakia in 1932, where he eventually became a citizen.[1]
In 1934, Kalaš succeeded in landing a contract with the Slovak National Theatre inBratislava, where he began to assail mainly roles from the standard Czech repertoire like Kecal inBedřich Smetana'sThe Bartered Bride and the High priest inAntonín Dvořák'sVanda. Renowned conductorVáclav Talich attended several of his performances at the theatre and, impressed with the young bass, poached him for the National Theater in Prague.[1]
Kalaš made his debut at the Prague National Theatre (PNT) as Kecal inn 1939 and became, along withEduard Haken, one of the house's most important basses during the 1940 and 1950s. An early major success for him at the theatre was the role of Count Vilém of Harasov in Dvořák'sThe Jacobin. Among his signature roles in Prague were Beneš inDalibor, Dosifey in Mussorgsky'sKhovanshchina, the King inThe Love for Three Oranges, Mumlal inThe Two Widows, Paloucký inThe Kiss, Leporello inDon Giovanni, King Philip II inGiuseppe Verdi'sDon Carlos, Prince Gremin inEugene Onegin, and Vodník inRusalka.[1]
In 1942 Kalaš sang in the world premiere ofFrantišek Škroup'sColumbus (composed 1855) at the PNT. He notably toured with the PNT to Russia, Germany, and Belgium, appearing at such houses as theBolshoi Theatre (1955), theBerlin State Opera (1956), andLa Monnaie (1958). In 1965 he was honored with the titlePeople's Artist of the USSR and he was awarded aThalia Award in 1995.[1]
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