The doctoral dissertation discusses topics related to singing school of Julij Betetto. The content is divided into four major chapters with subsections discussing historical development of the teaching of singing, establishment of the Conservatorium of Glasbena matica, the artistic and pedagogical path of Julij Betetto, his singing school and its reception, as well as the school's importance for the Slovenian music, specifically for vocal pedagogy and performing practice.
The bassist Julij Betetto (1885–1963) is one of the most important Slovenian and Yugoslav musical performers of the 20th century. He was one of the greatest bassists in the history of European opera interpreters. Born in Ljubljana, he was educated in his home town and in 1903 became a member of the Ljubljana Opera House. In 1907, he enrolled in the Imperial Academy of Music and the Performing Arts and graduated with honors in two years. He started singing in the Vienna Court Opera during his study and stayed there until the end of the 1921/1922 season, when he accepted an invitation from Matej Hubad to take the position of the first bassist in the Ljubljana Opera House. At the end of 1924, he began teaching at the Conservatorium of Glasbena matica. He popularized, intensified, and systemized the teaching of singing in the Slovenian region. He became the Headmaster of the Slovene National Conservatorium in December 1933 and later a Rector of the Music Academy in 1942. In the late 1930's his lesson plans for singing were implemented as the standard for all of music education. After World War II, and until his retirement in 1962, he worked at the Academy of Music as Head of the Solo Singing Department, two terms as Rector of the institution, and as the inspector for singing lessons. Betetto founded his own singing school, whose teaching method was not formalized or published as a didactic manual. Its base were systematic, vocal technique, and singing methodology. It was created on the basis of a singing school of Thuiskon Hauptner (1880), his Viennese teacher of singing and on his own singing practice. Julij Betetto significantly raised the standard of teaching in Slovenia to the level of that comparable to the rest of Europe. This was validated by numerous successes of his students and renowned artists, who have established themselves as opera and/or concert singers and singing teachers. The Musicians' Association of Slovenia awards Betetto Prize for Artistic Achievement. His statue has been standing in front of the Ljubljana Opera House since 1990. Betetto passed away on January 14, 1963.
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