HOČEM POSTATI PEVKA

Classical and Modern Music

Format: Digitalno

Code: 118227

EAN: 3838898118227

In honor of the 90th birthday of contralto Marija Bitenc Samec ZKP RTV Slovenia in cooperation with Radio Slovenia – ARS Programme is releasing the digital album entitled I want to become a singer. On it one of the most notable Slovenian concert soloists of the second half of the 20th century, who left an indelible mark on the field of solo performance of music presents herself with the most remarkable recordings of art songs and some opera arias.

Marija Bitenc Samec in 1963 (foto: Studio Potrč)

A daughter of celebrated slovenian writer Vinko Bitenc, her first teacher, wanted to become a singer at an early age of six. If was her father who recognized her musical talent, opening doors for the world of art, music and even literature. As a nine-year girl she wrote in a school essay: “If possible, I want to become a singer.”

In 1957, on her 25th birthday, she was the winner of International Eisteddfod in the Welsh town of Llangollen, the UK, among fierce competition of 150 singers. The victory in the prestigious singing competition was an important reference for future concerts and radio and television recordings. She gave concerts across former Yugoslavia, Austria, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the UK – among others, in the eminent Royal Albert Hall. She regularly recorded for European radio and television houses. In total, she appeared on 90 recordings as well as radio and television shows, on which she was featured as a performing artist.

Marija Bitenc Samec in 1969 (foto: Studio Potrč)

The repertoire of Maria Bitenc Samec included antique arias, solo parts in cantatas, a mass, an oratorio, a passion, art songs by Slovenian and foreign composers of the 19th and 20th century, songs from the period of the Yugoslavian National Liberation Movement and various opera arias and roles.

Her interpretations strive for in-depth understanding and technical accuracy. She studied new repertoire very meticulously – first, she focused on the words, trying to understand the poet’s intention, then on the melody at the piano. For her, the most important aspects of studying music were to create a meaningful phrasing, wholesome interpretation, aesthetic expression and musical finesse. The central part of her repertoire consisted of art songs, which she chose ‘by instinct’, that is, if the synergy of words and melody appealed to her on the first sight or not. The authors of almost half of the art songs from her repertoire were foreign composers, while the other part was written by Slovenian and Slavic composers. She sung works by Emil Adamič, Zvonimir Ciglič, Božidar Kantušer, Anton Lajovic, Marijan Lipovšek, Josip Pavčič, Rado Simoniti, Alojz Srebotnjak, Lucijan Marija Škerjanc, Franc Šturm, Danilo Švara, Fran Serafin Vilhar and Zlatan Vauda. It needs to be pointed out that she always gave a lot of attention to Slovenian art songs, often performing them abroad, thereby representing Slovenian cultural heritage in various European countries. As a singer, she enjoyed a reputation of an extraordinary alto and interpreter of art songs. Many composers wanted her to premiere their works, among them Lucijan Marija Škerjanc (Vision [Vizija], Farewell to a Friend [Slovo od prijatelja], Letters [Pisma], White Clouds [Beli oblaki], Autumn Song [ Jesenska pesem]), Danilo Švara (Basovizza [Bazovica], Elegy [Elegija], Seamstress [Šivilja]), Alojz Srebotnjak (No, I Don’t Want to Die Yet [Ne, jaz nočem še umreti]). Composer Zvonimir Ciglič dedicated her his art song Destiny.

Marija Bitenc Samec in 1976 (foto: Studio Potrč)

In the 1980s, she was active as a politically independent socio-cultural worker. For eight years, she was President of the Society of Independent Cultural Workers of Slovenia (1982-1990). She was Vice-President of the Union of Independent Cultural Workers of Slovenia and a member of the Cultural Council at the Presidency of the Republic Conference of the Socialist Union of the Working People of Slovenia, a delegate of the Cultural Community of Slovenia and a delegate of the Ljubljana Cultural Community.