Leo Slezak

Leo Slezak was an Austrian dramatic tenor and actor who was born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1873. He studied singing under Adolf Robinson and made a professional debut in 1896 as the title character in Lohengrin. Slezak became a permanent member of the Vienna State Opera in 1901 and achieved international prominence after signing a contract with the Metropolitan Opera in 1909. He is famous for his sense of humor and for his portrayal of the title role in Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello. His discography includes hundreds of recordings produced between 1901 and 1937. In 1932, Slezak began a career in German cinema, appearing in films such as La Paloma (1934) and Gasparone (1937). His final stage appearance occurred in 1934 and he published several semi-autobiographical books including Meine sämtlichen Werke (1922) and Song of Motley (1938). He died in 1946.