Jan Kiepura
Toronto Daily Star, April 20 1927
Jan Kiepura (1902-1966) became successful enough over the next few years that when he returned to his native Poland in 1934, he was able to build a hotel that cost three million in US dollars to put up. He also started introducing himself before performances as "The Great Kiepura", because why not?
Sadly, he was not able to enjoy his fame in Poland for very long. Kiepura had a Jewish mother, and he and his wife, soprano Marta Eggerth, were forced to emigrate to the United States in 1937 to get away from the Nazis.
Kiepura passed away in New York in 1966. His widow passed away in 2013; she outlived him by over 47 years and she never remarried.
Created September 19, 2025.