Jan Kiepura

 “One of the popular tenors in germany in the late 1920s was the Pole, Jan Kiepura. He made many records and always appeared at the studio with a handbag of assorted medicines which were applied to his throat during intermissions by a pretty secretary. The baritones I recall are headed by that wonderful Wagnerian interpreter, Friederich Schorr. At twenty-two I conducted a performance at the Berlin State Opera of the The Flying Dutchman, with him in the title role. His prais of my work was a great encouragement to me at that time. He said that I evidently understood the need for breathing on the part of the singer. This casual remark helped me a great deal in my work with singers, and I remember late having the same complimentpaid me by Michael Bohnen, when he sang with me his famous Hans Sachs.

 “Speaking of baritonesmakes me recall that famous singing actor Georges Baklanoff, a Russian, whose work was so greatly admired in this country, especially with the Chicago Opera. He had an estate near Potsdam, where I once celebrated a Russian New Year with hi mand his six Russian wolfhounds – all sitting around the table. At the high point of the night, he went to a shrine of the Virgin, crossed himself, said a prayer, pressed a hidden button and the picture opened to disclose behind it the rarest collection of French cognac I ever saw. In deep solemnity, Baklanoff took out two bottles and we went to it.

Bron: The American Record Guide, november/december 1946, Volume XIII