Chester Nieznanski-Nichols: Classical Baritone
Chester after his confirmation.
Chester Nieznanski-Nichols, Sr., in an opera performance costume.
Chester Nieznanski-Nichols was a classically trained singer and musician who grew-up and lived in the Chicago Area from when he was born in 1910 until he passed away in 1955. He left his loving wife, Mary Frances, and four children: Daniel Andrew Nichols, Kenneth Edward Nichols, Chester Nichols, Jr. and Penelope Ellen Nichols.
During his exemplary career, he was a very popular radio, opera, stage, church, wedding and society-event singer. He was also the lead baritone in the highly-regarded St. Mary's Catholic Church Choir in Evanston, Il. The St. Mary's choir was highly-regarded as the top-choir in Chicago and was filled with the best singers and musicians in Chicago.
Chester's son, Chet, Jr., followed in his father's footsteps in the music business. After his mother passed away, Chet, Jr. went through the original direct-to-acetates of his dad's performances and was able to, with the help of producer, Stephen Barncard, repair, master and digitize one of Chester, Sr's, more famous performances. This performance was produced with the St. Mary's Choir and orchestra and featured Joseph Haydn's "Good Friday" masterpiece for choral group and orchestra, "The Seven Last Words Of Our Saviour On The Cross". This performance used two acetate recorders to capture the hour+ performance. This performance was recorded by the radio engineers at WGN radio, as the whole performance was broadcasted "Live" on WGN radio. It was the most popular "live" radio show on Good Friday for many years.
That said, this recording has very few rough spots, but for acetates that are were from the late 1930's (making this performance about 85 years OLD), we have a wonderfully moving performance featuring, Chester, Sr., singing the role of Jesus Christ. The choir and orchestra and other featured soloists produced a contributed musical mass worth saving and sharing. The soloist, choir and orchestra of Joseph Haydn's, "The Seven Last Words Of Our Savior On The Cross", were directed by music director, Gregory Connell.
We hope you enjoy this vintage recording and the message it delivers.
Please send us any comments or questions you might have to: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com or chetnichols@aol.com.
Produced at The Magic Garage Studios. If you have any comments or questions, please contact us.
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Copyright © 1938/2020 ® by Chet Nichols (ASCAP) & Chet Nichols Creative Services (Magic Garage Music Division): Publisher (ASCAP)
All US and Global Rights are reserved. This song or any portion thereof (lyrics, music, samples, vocals) may not be reproduced in any form or media, distributed, transmitted, downloaded, shared or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the writer and the publisher.
For permission requests, write to the publisher at:
MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
Or addressed to:
"Attention: Permissions Coordinator, (at the address below)
Chet Nichols/Magic Garage Music, PO Box 2398, Northbrook, IL 60065”
http://www.chetnichols.net.
More information at:
http://www.chetnichols.net
http://chetnichols.bandcamp.com
Email: MagicGarageMusic@protonmail.com
Email: ChetNichols@me.com
Email: Chet @chetnichols.net