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. Parsifal (Wagner) Mein erstes Amt verricht’ ich so 55987 Pathé, Berlin 1914-05
2. Parsifal (Wagner) Nur eine Waffe taugt 5213 07928 10436 Anker, Berlin 1914 (late)
3. Parsifal (Wagner) Vom Bade kehrt der König heim (w. Moest) 5210 07924 10432 Anker, Berlin 1914 (late)
4. Parsifal (Wagner) Wie dünkt mich doch die Aue heut’ so schön with Rudolf Moest 5214 07925 10433 Anker, Berlin 1914 (late)
5. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Herr, dich in den Sternenkreisen (Triumphlied) 50109 Polyphon, Berlin 1920-08
6. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pastoral (Pour Bertha) 2-82979 1940ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-27
7. Prophète (Meyerbeer) Triumfsången (Roi du ciel) 2-82978 1939½ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-27
8. Rienzi (Wagner) O padre santo 5335 10670 Anker, Berlin 1921?1922
9. Rigoletto (Verdi) Freundlich blick’ ich 1378 4883 Kalliope, Berlin 1929-03
10. Rigoletto (Verdi) O wie so trügerisch 1378 4884 Kalliope, Berlin 1929-03
11. Tosca (Puccini) Det sköna står att finna (Recondita armonia) 2-82910 2148y Gramophone, Stockholm 1911-10-20
12. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 5334 10666 Anker, Berlin 1921?1922
13. Tosca (Puccini) Sången till lifvet (E lucevan le stelle) 2-82909 2144y Gramophone, Stockholm 1911-10-20
14. Tosca (Puccini) Und es blitzten die Sterne K4245 11220 Kalliope, Berlin 1928 (medio)
15. Tosca (Puccini) Wie sich die Bilder gleichen K4245 11219 Kalliope, Berlin 1928 (medio)
16. Trovatore (Verdi) Ah! si, ben mio Anker 5333 10667 Anker, Berlin 1921?1922
17. Trovatore (Verdi) Dass nur für mich dein Herz erbebt 042324 224z Gramophone, Stockholm 1911-10-20