Jan Durco website
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Born in Trenčin, Slovakia (1963).
He studied at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in Bratislava. In 1985 he undertook a stay at the Centro di perfezionamento artisti lirici, Teatro alla Scala in Milano.
Since 1986, he has been a soloist at the Opera of the Slovak National Theatre, Bratislava.
Among his major roles are the title role in Tchaikowski's Eugen Onegin, Valentin in Charles Gounod's Faust, Germont in Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata, the title role in Rigoletto, Hamlet in Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet and most recently also Hamlet in the contemporary Slovak opera by Juraj Beneš, The Players. For this role, he was given the award of the Literary Fund for the best opera singer of 2005.
He has devoted special attention to Rossini's repertory, and one of the greatest successes was his performance in the role of Dandini in La Cenerentola.
His repertory includes a wide range of oratorios, cantatas and songs.
With the Ensemble of the Slovak National Theatre, he performed at the Edinburgh International Festival, Mozartfestival Madrid, Maifestspiele Wiesbaden, in Israel, Hungary and in Germany. He toured twice in Japan with Giacomo Puccini's Tosca (1997) and with Verdi's La Traviata (2004). As a soloist, he has also performed in Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Avards
First Prize, Mikuláš Schneider Trnavský competition, 1983
First Prize, International Antonín Dvořák singing competition in Karlovy Vary, 1984
First Prize, International competition: Mozart`s Prague, 1988
Premium of the Slovak Literary Fund, for the role of Dandini in Rossini's La Cenerentola, 2003
Annual Award of the Slovak Literary Fund, best opera singer of the year, for the role of Hamlet in Juraj Beneš´s The Players
repertory
Opera
W.A.Mozart -
G.Rossini -
G.Donizetti -
P.I.Tchaikovski -
J.Massenet -
Ch.Gounod -
G.Bizet -
J.Offenbach -
A.Thomas -
U.Giordano -
G.Puccini -
R.Leoncavallo -
R.Strauss -
J.Beneš -
G.F.Telemann -
A.Dvořák -
F.Liszt -
P.Mascagni -
B.Martinu -
L.Perosi -
A.Thomas -
... Mr. Jan Ďurčo is more dramatic and expressive in this role. It is obvious that the French vocal style is very close to him. He perceives Hamlet as a person facing the serious existentional problems. That reflects in his artistic expression being considered into details ...
Nový deň
G.Rossini -
...surprise of production was Ján Ďurčo as Dandini, who not only on the aspect of handling of Rossini coloratura admirable manasterly, but also with the elegance and cultivated wit of the exhibition raised the level of the style criteria on the international level...
Pravda
... the part of Dandini was played by Ján Durčo, who as a boasting servant persuaded the enthusiastic viewers not only by his singing, but also his acting capacities ...
Miskolc Opera Festival 2005
Singers from the Slovak National Theatre experienced an enthusiastic round of applause after their performance of Rigoletto
... Ján Ďurčo, who possesses a simply beautiful baritone voice, gave as excellent performance as the lead role in Rigoletto ...
Hildegund de Waal, Sommerfestspiele Xanten, Germany
Magical voices, high praise for the orchestra
... literally magical voices highlighted Ján Ďurčo`s coloratura as Dandini in Rossini`s Cinderella ...
W.H., Sommerfestspiele Xanten, Germany
J.Benes -
... out of the eight members in the ensemble, the baritone voice of Ján Ďurčo stands out in his portrayal of Hamlet ...
Gerhard Persché, Opernwelt 12/2004
... even though all roles in the opera are more or less equal, Hamlet is nevertheless the undoubted centre of attention, and Ján Ďurčo gives a great interpretation of this extremely difficult singing position ...
B.Schaller, Das Opernglas 11/2004
... the dramatic content of the opera was helped immeasurably by the baritone Ján Ďurčo -
Brendan Carrol, Opera now, 3-
... I should mention the supreme vocal and acting creation of the role of Rigoletto, who was sung by Ján Ďurčo ...
Jitka Slavíková, Hudební rozhledy 2/2005
P.I.Tchaikovski -
... Onegin, sung by Ján Ďurčo, dark-
John Allison, Opera, March 2006