Description

ALEXANDER KIRCHNER (VIENNA, 16 MARCH, 1876 – VIENNA, 3 DECEMBER, 1948)

His real name was Alexander Schramek. He studied singing under Adolf Robinson in Brünn (Brno) and later with Amalie Materna in Vienna. He made his debut in 1909 at the Vienna Court Opera as Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon. At the Vienna Court Opera, he sang roles such as Don José in Carmen, Manrico in Il Trovatore, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. He remained engaged there until 1911. In the 1911-12 season, he joined the Royal Opera in Stockholm, and in the 1913-14 season, he performed at the German Opera House in Berlin. Notably, in 1914, he appeared in the premiere of Ignatz Waghalter’s opera Mandragola. From 1915 to 1935, he was a member of the Berlin Court Opera (renamed the Berlin State Opera in 1918). In 1916, he performed the role of Bacchus in the premiere of the second version of Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. He also participated in the 1914 Bayreuth Festival, performing in Der fliegende Holländer. Schramek gave guest performances in London, Holland, Switzerland, Paris, and Vienna and was highly regarded as a concert singer as well.

Chronology of some appearances

1909-1911 Vienna Court Opera Des Grieux (Manon)

1911-1912 Stockholm Royal Opera

1913-1914 Berlin  German Opera House

1915-1935 Berlin Court Opera

TRACKLIST

1. Hallo! Hallo! Hier Wien, potpourri, pt 2 (arr Morena) K4254 11238 Kalliope, Berlin 1928 (medio)
2. Lohengrin (Wagner) Abschied 5374 10801 Anker, Berlin 1923/1924
3. Lohengrin (Wagner) Afsked och svanesången (Mein lieber Schwan) 082061 222z Gramophone, Stockholm 1911-10-20
4. Lohengrin (Wagner) Höchstes Vertrau’n 5374 10668 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
5. Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 50168 30av Polyphon, Berlin 1921 (medio)
6. Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan! (Abschied) 50168 29½av Polyphon, Berlin 1921 (medio)
7. Lohengrin (Wagner) Récit du Graal 5057 Kalliope, Berlin 1929 (medio)
8. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Addio fiorito asil 10672 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
9. Manon (Massenet) Ah! fuyez douce 5354 10674 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
10. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Wo lebte wohl ein Wesen 5378 10799 Anker, Berlin 1923/1924
11. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd 5335 10669 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
12. Mignon (Thomas) Addio Mignon 5336 10676 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
13. Mignon (Thomas) Ah non credevi tu 5336 10677 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
14. Oberon (Weber) Vater! Hör’ mein Fleh’n zu dir (Gebet) 042401 410al Gramophone, Berlin 1913-04
15. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 5380 10679 Anker, Berlin 1921/1922
16. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Nein, bin Bajazzo nicht mehr 5380 10800 Anker, Berlin 1923/1924
17. Parsifal (Wagner) Amfortas! Die Wunde! 5213 07927 10435 Anker, Berlin 1914 (late)
18. Parsifal (Wagner) Ihn selbst am Kreuze (w. Moest) 5214 07926 10434 Anker, Berlin 1914 (late)