Sigmund Mogulesko (December 16, 1858 – February 4, 1914) — Yiddish: זעליק מאָגולעסקאָ Zelik Mogulesko, first name also sometimes given as Zigmund, Siegmund, Zelig, or Selig, last name sometimes spelled Mogulescu — was a singer, actor, and composer in the Yiddish theater, originally from Kalarash, Bessarabia (now Călăraşi in Moldova). He was a star in Abraham Goldfaden's first Bucharest-based theater troupe — the title role of Shmendrik was writte...
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Sigmund Mogulesko (December 16, 1858 – February 4, 1914) — Yiddish: זעליק מאָגולעסקאָ Zelik Mogulesko, first name also sometimes given as Zigmund, Siegmund, Zelig, or Selig, last name sometimes spelled Mogulescu — was a singer, actor, and composer in the Yiddish theater, originally from Kalarash, Bessarabia (now Călăraşi in Moldova). He was a star in Abraham Goldfaden's first Bucharest-based theater troupe — the title role of Shmendrik was written for him — and soon founded his own troupe; he eventually founded the Rumanian Opera House on New York City's Lower East Side, one of the great venues of Yiddish theater in New York. The Jewish Encyclopedia described him in 1904 as "the best comedian on the Yiddish stage… He is known also as a leading composer of music for the Yiddish stage."
Mogulesko's father died when he was nine years old, and his family received assistance from the local Jewish community. He first became a meshoyrer (choir singer) in the choir of cantor Iosif Heller, and...
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