Franz Naval
Franz Naval, real name Franc Pogačnik, was born on 20 October 1865 in Ljubljana. He was active between 1888-1913 and was undoubtedly one of the most famous singers of that time. He began his singing studies with Anton Nedvěd and continued his studies in Vienna with Professor Joseph Gänsbacher in Vienna. He made his debut in Frankfurt am Main in the role of Lionel in the opera Martha by the composer Flotow. He has sung in the world's greatest opera houses - in Berlin, Paris, London, New York and Vienna. Years 1897, with the role of Rodolfo He appeared extensively with Geraldine Farrar. First recordings is as early as 1901. Among other things, he recorded Schubert's complete cycle of autosongs Schöne Müllerin (Beautiful Müllerin). In 1909 he he participated in the first recording of Mascagni's complete opera Cavalleria Rusticana (*). He died on 9 August (or November) 1939.
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Some of the more important roles:
- Viljem (Thomas: Mignon)
- Rodolfo (Puccini: La Bohème)
- Lyonel (Flotow: Marta)
- Grieux (Massenet: Manon)
- Werther (Massenet: Werther)
- Hoffmann (Offenbach: Hoffmannove pripovedke)
- Don Ottavio (Mozart: Don Giovanni)
- Faust (Gounod: Faust)
(*) a short excerpt can be heard at this link: slub-Mediathek