Alfred Orda (full name Alfred Orda-Wdowczak; 1915–2004) was a Polish operatic
baritone
A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...
and soloist. Most of his life and performance career was spent in the United Kingdom. A regular performer at the BBC Proms, especially from 1943 to 1964, Orda was born in Łódź, Poland. "There was always singing in his life, for his mother had a good contralto voice."
Early singing career
"While still at technical high school, his vocal potential was recognized, and at the age of 19, he had his first singing lessons with Adele Comte-Wilgocka at the Łódź Conservatorium. Soon, with a repertoire of ''Eri tu, Di Provenza'', the Prologue from ''
Pagliacci
''Pagliacci'' (; literal translation, "Clowns") is an Italian opera in a prologue and two acts, with music and libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo. The opera tells the tale of Canio, actor and leader of a commedia dell'arte theatrical company, who m ...
,'' and Valentin's aria from '' Faust'', he set off on foot to Warsaw, a distance of 80 miles, in search of further training." In 1936, he traveled to Milan, Italy, where for the next three years he studied under the direction of Alfredo Cecchi, a teacher amongst whose students had been Basiola, Granda, and Ziliani.
Leaving Italy
Early in 1940, Orda was advised to leave Italy since war was imminent. He met up with other Polish students and refugees and made his way to France, eventually reaching England. Orda traveled to Scotland and before long he was singing professionally, engaged as a soloist with the Scottish Orchestra. His first concert on 12 January 1941, conducted by Warwick Braithwaite, contained 'Eri tu' and Prince Igor's aria. The correspondent of the ''
Glasgow Evening Times
The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.Glasgow, Orda met his future wife.
Early credits
In 1942, Orda made his first British operatic appearance as Valentin in 'Faust' with the
Carl Rosa Company
The Carl Rosa Opera Company was founded in 1873 by Carl Rosa, a German-born musical impresario, and his wife, British operatic soprano Euphrosyne Parepa-Rosa to present opera in English in London and the British provinces. The company premiered ...
. In 1943, he was engaged by Sir Henry Wood for the Promenade Concert Season in the
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...
. With Sir
Adrian Boult
Sir Adrian Cedric Boult, CH (; 8 April 1889 – 22 February 1983) was an English conductor. Brought up in a prosperous mercantile family, he followed musical studies in England and at Leipzig, Germany, with early conducting work in London ...
, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra he sang the Polonaise from ' Verbum Nobile' by Moniuszko. That season was the start of a succession of concerts and recitals for the BBC for over 25 years. A notice in the ''Times'', regarding his Promenade Concert in 1944, described Orda as "a baritone with a freely-produced, resonant but agreeable soft textured voice who flung forth his melody as it might have been early Verdi, and at once captured the audience".
From 1945 to 1946, he toured with the Polish Opera Company in Canada, USA (New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit) performing main baritone roles in popular operas, continuing to receive glowing press notices. Between 1946 and 1947, Orda appeared as Silvio in 'Il Pagliacci' with the City Centre Opera in New York and further engagements with Salmaggi Company at the
Brooklyn Academy of Music
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a performing arts venue in Brooklyn, New York City, known as a center for progressive and avant-garde performance. It presented its first performance in 1861 and began operations in its present location in ...
and at the
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...
with the International Opera Company.
In 1948, he attended auditions at the Metropolitan Opera House but was immediately recruited by Georges Hirsch, the Director of the
Paris Opera
The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be ...
(who was in New York the time) to appear as Valentin in 'Faust'. The French press published glowing reviews on his début. In 1953, Orda joined the Sadler's Wells Opera Company which he remained with for four years. In 1955, he shared a BBC studio concert with Dame
Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s.
She possessed ...
in a
Hugo Wolf
Hugo Philipp Jacob Wolf (13 March 1860 – 22 February 1903) was an Austrian composer of Slovene origin, particularly noted for his art songs, or Lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Ro ...
program, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra under Walter Goehr. In 1956, he sang in two broadcast studio performances of ' Alceste' by Gluck, under Geraint Jones, among other soloists such as Flagstad,
Raoul Jobin
Raoul Jobin, (April 8, 1906 – January 13, 1974) was a French-Canadian operatic tenor, particularly associated with the French repertory.
Life and career
Born Joseph Roméo Jobin in Quebec City, Quebec, where he first took private voice ...
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is a Grade I l ...
in a program conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent.
In 1957, due to personal reasons, Orda reluctantly turned down an invitation from the Royal Opera House to sing the role of Amonasro in ' Aida' in the 1958/59 Convent Garden season. From this period, he concentrated on concert and recital work, mainly appearing as a soloist in the BBC Promenade Concerts.
Orda was undoubtedly a major contender in the international operatic stage, and had not been for his temperamental character, he would have enjoyed the same celebrity status as some of his better-known contemporary rivals, such as Tito Gobbi, for example. With a no-nonsense and blunt attitude, Orda probably ostracized himself from the operatic mainstream. Unfortunate episodes—such as rubbing the wrong way the likes of Von Karajan and the Director of the Metropolitan Opera House—kept him away from some of the main opera houses.
Death
In 2004, at age 88, Orda suffered a fatal heart attack on his way home after visiting his hospitalized wife. His recorded performances can still be heard on various websites and music archives.
References
* {1) Lewis P. Alfred Orda. The Record Collector: Journal for Collectors of Recorded Vocal Art 1989; 34 (11/12: 260-272.
* (2) BBC Prom Archive: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/archive/search/performers/alfred-orda/1
* Additions by Alfred Orda's student (1993–1996) and friend
elder
An elder is someone with a degree of seniority or authority.
Elder or elders may refer to:
Positions Administrative
* Elder (administrative title), a position of authority
Cultural
* North American Indigenous elder, a person who has and tr ...