Štefan Hoza
Encyclopedia
Štefan Hoza was a Slovak opera
tic tenor
, actor
, librettist, educator, music publicist and historian.
Hoza worked as a teacher before studying singing at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava
. Just weeks after graduating, Hoza made his professional opera debut at the Slovak National Theatre
(SNT) in Bratislava in 1932. He remained at the theatre for the next three decades. He also pursued further vocal training in Prague (1932), Milan (1933), and Vienna (1936).
Hoza's repertoire at the SNT encompassed many heroic tenor roles and operetta roles; portraying more than 90 roles at the house during his lengthy career. He was especially praised for his portrayal of Prince Sou-Chong in Franz Lehár
's The Land of Smiles
. He notably portrayed the role of Ondrej Zimoň in the world premiere of Eugen Suchoň
's Krútňava
on 10 December 1949. He also co-wrote the libretto for that opera with Suchoň. He also wrote the librettos for two operas by Ján Cikker
, Juro Jánošík (1954) and Beg Bajazid (1957). In addition to performing, Hoza worked as dramaturge
at the SNT from 1939–1947. He also served as an opera director at the house for several productions between 1958-1962.
Hoza also worked as an actor in a few Czech films, portraying Bolko Baranský in Polská krev (1934), Stepan Urbanec in Hudba srdcí (1934), and the Head physician in Na pochode sa vzdy nespieva (1961). He also sang for the soundtracks of the first two aforementioned films and for Zem spieva (1933). As a music historian he published three books related to the history of opera in Slovakia: Tvorcovia hudby (1943), Opera na Slovensku (1954), and Večer v opere (1975). He also published a two volume autobiography, Ja svoje srdce dám, in 1989.
After retiring from the stage in 1962, Hoza joined the voice faculty of the Bratislava Conservatory where he taught up until his death. He had already begun teaching singing privately in 1952. In 1968 he was named a National Artist by the government of Czechoslovakia. In 1977 he signed the Anticharta, the reaction of the ruling Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
to Charter 77
.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, librettist, educator, music publicist and historian.
Hoza worked as a teacher before studying singing at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava
Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava
The Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava is a university founded on June 9, 1949.The university consists of three faculties:*Theatre Faculty...
. Just weeks after graduating, Hoza made his professional opera debut at the Slovak National Theatre
Slovak National Theatre
The Slovak National Theatre denotes:* the oldest Slovak professional theatre consisting of 3 ensembles ,* a Neo-Renaissance theatre building in the Old Town of Bratislava, Slovakia, which formerly housed two of the theatre's ensembles , and* the theatre's large modern theatre building in...
(SNT) in Bratislava in 1932. He remained at the theatre for the next three decades. He also pursued further vocal training in Prague (1932), Milan (1933), and Vienna (1936).
Hoza's repertoire at the SNT encompassed many heroic tenor roles and operetta roles; portraying more than 90 roles at the house during his lengthy career. He was especially praised for his portrayal of Prince Sou-Chong in Franz Lehár
Franz Lehár
Franz Lehár was an Austrian-Hungarian composer. He is mainly known for his operettas of which the most successful and best known is The Merry Widow .-Biography:...
's The Land of Smiles
The Land of Smiles
The Land of Smiles is a romantic operetta in three acts by Franz Lehár. The German language libretto was by Ludwig Herzer and Fritz Löhner. The performance time is about 100 minutes....
. He notably portrayed the role of Ondrej Zimoň in the world premiere of Eugen Suchoň
Eugen Suchon
Eugen Suchoň was one of the greatest Slovak composers of the 20th century.-Early life:...
's Krútňava
Krútnava
Krútňava is an opera in six scenes by Eugen Suchoň written in the 1940s to a libretto by the composer and Štefan Hoza, based on a novella, Za vyšným mlynom by Milo Urban...
on 10 December 1949. He also co-wrote the libretto for that opera with Suchoň. He also wrote the librettos for two operas by Ján Cikker
Ján Cikker
Ján Cikker was a Slovak composer, a leading exponent of modern Slovak classical music. He was awarded the title National Artist in Slovakia, the Herder Prize and the UNESCO Prize .-Life:...
, Juro Jánošík (1954) and Beg Bajazid (1957). In addition to performing, Hoza worked as dramaturge
Dramaturge
A dramaturge or dramaturg is a professional position within a theatre or opera company that deals mainly with research and development of plays or operas...
at the SNT from 1939–1947. He also served as an opera director at the house for several productions between 1958-1962.
Hoza also worked as an actor in a few Czech films, portraying Bolko Baranský in Polská krev (1934), Stepan Urbanec in Hudba srdcí (1934), and the Head physician in Na pochode sa vzdy nespieva (1961). He also sang for the soundtracks of the first two aforementioned films and for Zem spieva (1933). As a music historian he published three books related to the history of opera in Slovakia: Tvorcovia hudby (1943), Opera na Slovensku (1954), and Večer v opere (1975). He also published a two volume autobiography, Ja svoje srdce dám, in 1989.
After retiring from the stage in 1962, Hoza joined the voice faculty of the Bratislava Conservatory where he taught up until his death. He had already begun teaching singing privately in 1952. In 1968 he was named a National Artist by the government of Czechoslovakia. In 1977 he signed the Anticharta, the reaction of the ruling Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
Communist Party of Czechoslovakia
The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, in Czech and in Slovak: Komunistická strana Československa was a Communist and Marxist-Leninist political party in Czechoslovakia that existed between 1921 and 1992....
to Charter 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
.