Bohumil Benoni

A mass server in his early childhood, Benoni became a member of the church choir at the age of nine years and immediately charmed all with the beauty of his voice. As his voice changed, he skipped the usual stages of voice development to become a full-fledged baritone. His first solo performance occurred on the occasion of honoring Dr. Holub, the famous traveler of nearby Holice. Benoni decided to study voice on advice of Dr. Karel Pippich. On completion of his studies he joined the cast of the Czech premier opera, on 4.1.1883. Thereafter he appeared in Chrudim only rarely, e.g., as Don Giovanni in Mozart's opera in a production of Svanda's company. He died in Bela pod Bezdezem but is interred in the cemetery at the St. Vaclav church.