Edouard and Jean de Reszke in Jules Massenet’s opera Le Cid

The Polish brothers Edouard and Jean de Reszke sang frequently at the Royal Opera House during the 1880s and '90s, and were great favourites of the Victorian opera-going public. Jean de Reszke was reputed to be Queen Victoria’s favourite tenor. In one caption Lady de Grey refers to him as ‘the greatest operatic artist I ever saw or heard’.

The de Reszkes are well-represented in Lady de Grey’s albums, which include pictures of Edouard’s children and his country house in Poland, in addition to many photos of them in costume and off-stage. 

ROH/GRE/2/086

Image from the Lady de Grey Photographic Collection

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