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Julij Betetto

(August 27, 1885 - January 14, 1963)

Julius Betetto, actually Julij Betetto, was born in Ljubljana on August 27, 1885. He started singing in the choir at St. Jacob's under Fran Gerbič, who recognized his talent and enrolled him in the Glasbena Matica music school. At 18, he made his debut as a soloist at the Ljubljana Opera with the role of Mícha in Smetana's opera The Bartered Bride. In 1905 he auditioned at the Vienna Court Opera but could not afford to stay in Vienna due to poor financial conditions. In Ljubljana, he soon became famous to such an extent that he was guaranteed a scholarship which enabled him to enrol into the Vienna Conservatory in 1907. After completing his studies with the renowned singing teacher August Iffert, he was engaged at the Vienna Court Opera. There stayed until 1922 and performed all the major roles of the bass repertoire. His singing colleagues were, among others, Mattia Battistini, Maria Jeritza, Enrico Caruso, Titta Ruffo. At the world premiere of Strauss's opera Die Frau ohne Schatten on October 10, 1919, he was in the premiere cast. When in 1922 operas were staged at the Salzburg Festival for the first time, he performed in two of Mozart's operas - as Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro and as Don Juan (the latter under the direction of Richard Strauss). In the following years, he sang in Ljubljana and Munich. At different times, he was head of the Ljubljana Opera, the Glasbena Matica, the Academy of Music and a sought-after singing teacher. He died on January 14, 1963, in Ljubljana.

some significant roles:

names:

Julij / Julius
Betetto

a selection of recordings

Viktor Parma / folk song

Sezidal sem si vinski hram - I have built myself a wine cellar

Fran Gerbič / Oton Župančič

Pojdem na prejo - I'll Go To The Spinning-Room

Emilio Adamič / folk song

Nocoj je pa svetla noč -
Tonight Is A Luminous Night

Josip Pavčič / Oton Župančič

Dedek samonog -
Grandpa Single-Leg

Julij Betetto Youtube Playlist

3 recordings

a selection of photographs

A portrait of Julius Betetto in 1906

rtvslo.si (orig.source/rights: Andrej Mrak)

A portrait of Julius Betetto in 1930

dlib.si (orig.source/rights: Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica)
MLA: Julius Betetto. Holdt, 1930 <http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:IMG-MPFR9MFH>

Julius Betetto as Hunding (Wagner: The Valkyrie) in the 1930s

dlib.si (orig.source/rights: Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica)
MLA:Julius Betetto: als Hunding in "Walküre". Holdt, 193?. <http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:IMG-YEM6HLLI>

Julius Betetto as Daland (Wagner: The Flying Dutchman) in the 1930s

dlib.si (orig.source/rights: Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica)
MLA: Julius Betetto (1885-1963) kot Daland v Flieg. Holländer. Holdt, 1930-1940. <http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:IMG-2BEAOSOF>

Julius Betetto as Don Basilio (Rossini: The Barber of Seville) in 1943

kamra.si (orig.source/rights: SNG Opera in balet)

Julius Betetto in a recording session, 1930s.

dlib.si (orig.source/rights: Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica)
MLA: Hibšer, Hugo. Julij Betetto. H. Hibšer, 193?. <http://www.dlib.si/?URN=URN:NBN:SI:IMG-909C1M9G>

sources / links for further reading