Matus Tomko
Matus Tomko (born February 4, 1978 in Vranov nad Toplou) is a Slovak opera singer (bass). He studied opera singing at the Church Conservatory in Bratislava, Slovakia (1998–2004) with Mgr. Art. Frantisek Malatinec where he had regularly been performing at graduation concerts since his third year of study. Since 2004 he has been a soloist at the State Theatre in Kosice where he made his debut as The Speaker of the Temple in Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart under the direction of Miloslav Oswald and Igor Dohovic. In 2005 he won the third place at the 40th Antonin Dvorak International Vocal Competition in opera singing in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.[1]
Matus Tomko | |
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Born | 4 February 1978 |
Origin | Vranov nad Toplou, Slovakia |
Genres | Opera, Classical |
Instruments | Singing (bass) |
Years active | 1998–present (singer) |
As a principal soloist at the State Theatre in Kosice he has sung many roles of the world repertoire (Brander in Faust, Mícha – in the Bartered Bride, Samuel Ribbing in Un Ballo in Maschera by G. Verdi, Marchese d'Obigny in La Traviata by G. Verdi, Masetto in Don Giovanni by W. A. Mozart, captain Zuniga in Carmen by G. Bizet, etc.).
In 2009, he performed the role of Jan (John) in the worldwide premiere of the original Slovak opera - Šavol (Saul) [2] of which the music was composed by a prominent Slovak music composer and pedagogue at the St Cecilia Church Conservatory in Bratislava - Vitazoslav Kubicka. The libretto was written by Teodor Krizka.[3] I will be really happy to collaborate with Matus Tomko again after a long time. I carry inside me a memory of his performance in my first opera Gospel according to Luke..[4] Opera was performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Kosice under the musical direction of Adrian Kokos in Kosice, Kezmarok, Zilina and Nitra.
Matus Tomko often performs at charity concerts. He was invited by a non-profit organisation - Centrum Slniecko (Little Sun Centre) to sing at the charity concert on the World day of prevention of cruelty to children at the Nitra Synagogue in November 2010.[5][6]
On 26 November 2012 Matus Tomko was invited by the Church Conservatory of Music in Bratislava to take part in a concert dedicated to the 100th anniversary of birth of a great Slovak opera singer Anna Hrusovska, who was an excellent interpreter of the works of W.A. Mozart. Matus Tomko performed the arias of W.A. Mozart along with the other ex-students from the Church Conservatory such as Pavol Brslik, Martina Masarykova, Lenka Kotrbova and a chamber orchestra ZOE under the leadership of Alan Vizvary.
Recordings
- Matus Tomko as Jan in the Saul opera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfaWaBHkzVM
References
- Biography of Matus Tomko at sdke.sk (in Slovak) Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- Full video of the Saul opera
- Opera as a choral on God's love - in Slovak, kniznicapb.sk, Kaplanova, Elena, 22 September 2009]
- New Slovak opera Saul, Kultura, 11/2009, 3 June 2009 - in Slovak
- Project on the 19 November - World day of prevention of cruelty to children - "It's possible even without bruises" - in Slovak, Profitmedia, Dvorakova, Helena, November 2010.
- Video from the charity concert The Hope for children