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Biography
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Ādolfs Kaktiņš
Latvian opera singer (baritone) (born July 26, 1885 in Ērberģe, Latvia [then Russian Empire] — died July 25, 1965 In San Jose, CA, United States).
Kaktiņš worked as an apprentice for several craftsmen and trained as an accountant before he began his stage career. In 1902, he had his theatrical debut in the theater of the abstinence society "Auseklis" in whose choir he and brother Robert were singing. Between 1908 and 1913, while playing increasingly more important dramatic roles at a variety of theaters, he took singing lessons. His first operatic role, in 1910, was the Prince in Konradin Kreutzer's "Das Nachtlager in Granada". In 1912, he won a three-year contract with the Nuremberg State Theater, where he sang in Wagner's "Ring des Nibelungen," Verdi's "Troubadour" and others in the 1913-1914 season. The start of World War 1, however, forced him to return first to Riga, and then, when the front came closer, to flee to St. Petersburg. Between 1915 and 1918, he performed in various Russian cities in front of Latvian refugee audiences.
Having returned to Riga in 1918, Kaktiņš began working at the Latvian Opera (from 1919, the Soviet Latvian Opera). He performed the title roles in Wagner's "Flying Dutchman", Verdi's "Rigoletto", Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Tchaikovsky's "Eugen Onegin" and many others, including operas by a series of Latvian composers. From 1925, intrigues forced Kaktiņš to go abroad for some time. During this time he performed at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra in Paris. In 1934, he acted the role of Maigas' father in the first Latvian sound feature film "Son of the People" (director H. Ballašs).
During the German occupation from 1941-1944, Kaktiņš continued to sing at the Riga Opera and give numerous concerts elsewhere. In September 1944, he followed the retreating German armies to Germany. He spent the next years performing to Latvian refugee communities in Germany. In July 1949, he emigrated to the United States. There he continued to perform in concerts and at theatrical performances organized by Latvian emigrants in the U.S. and Canada. He made his living, however, by working for a number of companies before he finally turned to chicken farming.
Starting around 1910, Kaktiņš recorded both operatic arias and Latvian folk songs for numerous labels.
Kaktiņš worked as an apprentice for several craftsmen and trained as an accountant before he began his stage career. In 1902, he had his theatrical debut in the theater of the abstinence society "Auseklis" in whose choir he and brother Robert were singing. Between 1908 and 1913, while playing increasingly more important dramatic roles at a variety of theaters, he took singing lessons. His first operatic role, in 1910, was the Prince in Konradin Kreutzer's "Das Nachtlager in Granada". In 1912, he won a three-year contract with the Nuremberg State Theater, where he sang in Wagner's "Ring des Nibelungen," Verdi's "Troubadour" and others in the 1913-1914 season. The start of World War 1, however, forced him to return first to Riga, and then, when the front came closer, to flee to St. Petersburg. Between 1915 and 1918, he performed in various Russian cities in front of Latvian refugee audiences.
Having returned to Riga in 1918, Kaktiņš began working at the Latvian Opera (from 1919, the Soviet Latvian Opera). He performed the title roles in Wagner's "Flying Dutchman", Verdi's "Rigoletto", Mozart's "Don Giovanni," Tchaikovsky's "Eugen Onegin" and many others, including operas by a series of Latvian composers. From 1925, intrigues forced Kaktiņš to go abroad for some time. During this time he performed at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and at the Théâtre National de l'Opéra in Paris. In 1934, he acted the role of Maigas' father in the first Latvian sound feature film "Son of the People" (director H. Ballašs).
During the German occupation from 1941-1944, Kaktiņš continued to sing at the Riga Opera and give numerous concerts elsewhere. In September 1944, he followed the retreating German armies to Germany. He spent the next years performing to Latvian refugee communities in Germany. In July 1949, he emigrated to the United States. There he continued to perform in concerts and at theatrical performances organized by Latvian emigrants in the U.S. and Canada. He made his living, however, by working for a number of companies before he finally turned to chicken farming.
Starting around 1910, Kaktiņš recorded both operatic arias and Latvian folk songs for numerous labels.