Description

VERA SCHWARZ (ZAGREB, 10 JULY, 1888 – VIENNA, 4 DECEMBER, 1964)

 

 

 

 

She studied in Vienna with Philipp Forstén and made her debut in 1908 at the Theater an der Wien in a small operetta role, appearing alongside the unforgettable Alexander Girardi. From 1908 to 1912 she sang in Graz, and from 1911 to 1913 she was engaged at the Johann Strauss Theater in Vienna. There she achieved brilliant success as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and subsequently decided to pursue an operatic career.

In 1914, she joined the Hamburg State Opera (Stadttheater), where she remained until 1918. That year, she was appointed to the Berlin State Opera, and in 1922 she moved to the Vienna State Opera. Here she appeared in major roles, including Tosca opposite Alfred Piccaver, Carmen, Eva in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Sieglinde in Die Walküre, the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, and Rachel in Halévy’s La Juive, in which she caused a sensation as a brilliant interpreter. She remained a member of the Vienna State Opera ensemble until 1930 and returned to the Berlin State Opera from 1931 to 1933.

In 1927, she sang at the Deutsches Künstlertheater in Berlin alongside Richard Tauber in the world premiere of Franz Lehár’s operetta Der Zarewitsch, achieving a sensational success. She now became one of the leading operetta stars of the 1920s and celebrated her triumphs at the Berlin Metropol-Theater, where she was a member from 1929 to 1933. She gained legendary renown as an interpreter of Lehár’s operettas and as Tauber’s partner, while continuing to cultivate her operatic repertoire.

She sang Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier at the 1929 Salzburg Festival, and in 1928 appeared as Tosca at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. She again performed at the Vienna State Opera from 1934 to 1936 and in 1938, and at the Budapest Opera in 1934, where she had already appeared in 1925, as well as at the Belgrade National Opera. She also appeared in London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Munich, in both operetta and opera roles. In 1935 she took part in the world premiere of Franz Salmhofer’s opera Die Dame im Traum at the Vienna State Opera. At the Glyndebourne Festival in 1938, she sang Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth.

In 1938, as a Jew, she was forced to leave Austria and fled to England. From 1939 onward she lived in North America, where she appeared at the opera houses of Chicago and San Francisco, as well as in operatic productions in Hollywood, though she worked primarily as a concert soprano. After the Second World War she returned to Vienna, worked as a vocal teacher, and from 1948 onward led annual masterclasses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Aida (Verdi) Zu dir führt mich ein ernster Grund… Wohlauf denn, erhebt euch (w. Bohnen) 044309, 044310, 1411s, 1412s Grammophon, Berlin

Ave Maria (Nikorowisz) O-11037 a Be 8372 Odeon

Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Wenn das Kraut 0943026 77an Grammophon, Berlin 1920

Bohème (Puccini) Mimi, ich hoffte euch zu finden hier (w. Ziegler) 80830 xxB6664 Odeon, Berlin 1921

Così fan tutte (Mozart) Beim Männervolk 80084 xxB6667 Odeon, Berlin 1921

Così fan tutte (Mozart) Schon als Mädchen von… 80085 xxB6668 Odeon, Berlin 1921

Der Vogel im Walde (Taubert) 76261 xxB6578-2 Odeon, Berlin 1920

Ernani (Verdi) Ernani, rette mich 76240 xxB6487 Odeon, Berlin 1920

Juive (Halévy) Er kommt zurück 76208 xxB6489-2 Odeon, Berlin 1920

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Wer in euren Landen (w. Hirzel) O-6780 xxB8491 Odeon, Berlin 1930-06-17

Madama Butterrfly (Puccini) Willst du nun endlich mir sagen (w. Hirzel) O-6780 xxB8490 Odeon, Berlin 1930-06-17

Menschen, die ihr war’t verloren (Verspoell) O-11037 b Be 8375 Odeon

Mignon (Thomas) Kennst du das Land 4-8921 52489 1 Homocord

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Wie gefährlich… Tot ist deine Liebe (w. Ziegler) 80823, 80824, xxB6665, xxB6666 Odeon, Berlin 1921

Peer Gynt (Grieg) Solveigs Lied 76332 xxB6642 Odeon, Berlin 1921-0304

Trovatore (Verdi) In deines Kerkers tiefe Nacht 0943025 75an Grammophon, Berlin 1920

Trovatore (Verdi) In deines Kerkers tiefe Nacht O-6841 xxB8488 Odeon, Berlin 1930-06-17

Trovatore (Verdi) Miserere (w. Hirzel & chorus) O-6841 xxB8489 Odeon, Berlin 1930-06-17