Description

HERMINE KITTEL (VIENNA, DECEMBER 2, 1879 – VIENNA, APRIL 7, 1948)

 

 

 

 

She initially began her career as an actress, making her debut in 1897 in Laibach (Ljubljana). In 1898, she was engaged by the Graz Theater, where her singing talent was discovered when she appeared in a Suppé operetta. After studying in Vienna with the famous Amalie Materna, she returned to Graz, where from 1899 to 1900 she performed roles such as Magdalena in W. Kienzl’s Evangelimann, Floßhilde in Das Rheingold, Adriano in Rienzi, and Orlowsky in Die Fledermaus.

She then sang Orlowsky in her debut at the Vienna Court Opera (since 1918 the Vienna State Opera), where she remained for the next thirty years. Early in her career, she received support from the great composer and conductor Gustav Mahler. She also appeared at the Bayreuth Festival in 1902 and 1908 as Erda and as the First Norn in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. In 1910, she sang the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte at the Salzburg Mozart Festival.

On April 1, 1914, she took part in the world premiere of Franz Schmidt’s opera Notre Dame in Vienna, and on October 4, 1916, she appeared in a small role in the premiere of the revised version of Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. At the Salzburg Festival, she sang Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro (1922 and 1925), the Dryad in Ariadne auf Naxos (1926), and the Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte (1928). She also made guest appearances in Paris, Budapest, and Prague, all of which were highly successful.

In the concert hall, she was especially admired as the alto soloist in Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, which she performed in Amsterdam in 1913, among other venues. She retired from the stage in 1931 and subsequently worked as a voice teacher in Vienna. In 1936, however, she made a notable return to the Vienna State Opera as Countess Palmatica in Millöcker’s Der Bettelstudent.

She was married to the baritone Alexander Haydter (1872–1919), who, like her, was a member of the Vienna State Opera. Her brother, Karl Kittel, was a well-known conductor and served as an assistant at the Bayreuth Festival from 1904 to 1939.

She possessed an exceptionally beautiful, dark, luminous alto voice and mastered an extensive stage and concert repertoire. Her artistry is preserved on numerous recordings, beginning with G&T discs made in Vienna in 1903, as well as on Odeon and HMV. One title was issued on Pathé, and her famous recording of the final duet from Carmen with Leo Slezak was released on Victor.

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Martha (Flotow) Mag der Himmel (w. Forst, Preuss, Hesch & chorus) 2-44225 10827u G&T, 1907

Martha (Flotow) Nur näher, blöde Mädchen (w. Forst, Preuss & Stehmann) 3-44009 14651u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Martha (Flotow) Schlaf’ wohl (w. Forst, Preuss & Stehmann) 3-44010 14653u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Martha (Flotow) Was soll ich dazu sagen (w. Forst, Preuss & Stehmann) 3-44017 14652u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Selig wie die Sonne (w. Forst, Slezak, Preuss & Demuth) 044144 01198v Gramophone, 1909-09-17

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Heil’ge Quelle 43815 4246L G&T, Wien 1906-06

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Nun wird’s bald geschehen (w. Forst & Weidemann) 3-44018 14668u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Orfeo ed Euridice (Gluck) Ach, ich habe sie verloren 43751 684r G&T, Wien 1905-11

Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky) Arie 8070 V67 Odeon, Wien 1904

Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Wart’ noch ein Weilchen, Marie (w. Forst, Elizza, Stehmann, Weidemann & Hesch) 2-44323 11737½u G&T, Wien 1907-11/12

Prophète (Meyerbeer) Liebtest du diesen Sohn (w. Schmedes) 2-44186 9958u G&T, Wien 1906-11/12

Prophète (Meyerbeer) O gebt, o gebt! (Bettelarie) 8077 Odeon, Wien 1904

Rheingold (Wagner) Rheintöchter-Terzett (w. Elizza & Hilgermann) 2-44413 12973u Gramophone, Wien 1908-05

Rigoletto (Verdi) Quartett (w. Kurz, Slezak & Demuth) 044069 0741v G&T, Wien 1907

Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Sieh’ mein Herz 43793 4209L G&T, Wien 1906-06

Trovatore (Verdi) Dass noch einmal sie erschiene (w. Slezak) 3-44033 14584u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05

Trovatore (Verdi) Lodernde Flammen 19262 Pathé-Artistical, Wien 1905-09/10

Trovatore (Verdi) O Gott, du schweigst (w. Elizza & Schmedes) 2-44027 651r G&T, Wien 1905-12

Wildschütz (Lortzing) Bin ein schlichtes Kind vom Lande 43955 11095u G&T, Wien 1907-06/08

Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Ha seht, es’ winkt (w. Siegmann-Wolff & Meister) 2-44038 714r G&T, Wien 1905