Opera Scotland

Jean Dimitresco Suggest updates

Ion Dumitrescu.

Born Iaşi: 30 December 1860.

Died London: 4 March 1913.

Romanian tenor.

The French form of his name was used by Carl Rosa, with whom his repertoire was largely French school. More generally, however, and when working in Italian, as at Covent Garden during the same period, the form Giovanni Dimitrescu was used.

He began his studies in Romania, first at Iaşi under Giuseppe Cima, then Bucharest with George Stefanescu. His debut in 1885 was as Ernani at the Bucharest Opera. He then studied with Francesco Lamperti in Milan, singing performances of Duke of Mantua and Manrico in one of the smaller theatres. In 1889 he joined an Italian company on a tour to Australia. He moved to Britain in 1890, and during the next two seasons appeared at Covent Garden in a range of roles from Mozart (Don Ottavio) to Ponchielli (Enzo in La gioconda). He also sang Don José and Radamès. These performances would have been given in Italian. During the same period, he sang a number of roles from the French repertoire (Raoul, Faust, Roméo, Don José) on tour with Carl Rosa as well as Verdi parts such as Manrico, this time singing in English. He also returned to Eastern Europe, particularly to Moscow, St Petersburg, Kiev and Warsaw. Performances were also given in Italy and he visited South America.