Description

JULIUS PATZAK (VIENNA, 9 APRIL, 1898 – ROTTACH-EGERN, 26 JANUARY, 1974)

 

 

 

 

He initially intended to become a conductor and studied counterpoint and composition in Vienna under Eusebius Mandyczewski and Franz Schmidt. He began his career as a church musician but transitioned to singing as an autodidact in 1926. That year, he made his debut at the Municipal Theatre of Reichenberg (Liberec) in Bohemia as Radamès in Aida. From 1927 to 1928, he performed at the Municipal Theatre of Brno, and in 1928, he joined the Munich State Opera, where he remained a celebrated member until 1947.

He gained international acclaim for his interpretations of Mozart roles at the Munich Festival during the 1930s. At Munich, he premiered operas such as Hans Pfitzner’s Das Herz (12 November 1931), Richard Strauss’s Der Friedenstag (24 July 1938), and Carl Orff’s Der Mond (5 February 1939). In 1938, he performed with the Munich Opera ensemble at La Scala in Milan. He also appeared as a guest artist in major opera houses in Copenhagen (1934, 1939), Budapest, Zurich, and Prague (1937), as well as in Amsterdam (1932, 1934), Antwerp (1939), and other prominent venues.

In 1945, he was appointed to the Vienna State Opera, where he continued to perform with great success until 1959. His reputation as a leading tenor of his generation was cemented by extensive concert tours and guest appearances. In 1938, he sang Tamino at the London Covent Garden Opera and later appeared with the Vienna State Opera ensemble as Florestan and Herod in Salome in 1947. Between 1951 and 1954, he reprised Florestan, as well as performing Pfitzner’s Palestrina (his signature role) and Hoffmann in The Tales of Hoffmann.

He was a frequent performer at the Salzburg Festival, appearing in numerous concerts between 1938 and 1953. He also participated in significant world premieres, such as Gottfried von Einem’s Dantons Tod (6 August 1947). At Salzburg, his roles included Tamino in The Magic Flute (1943), Belmonte in The Abduction from the Seraglio (1941, 1945), Elemer in Arabella (1947), and Florestan in Fidelio (1948). In 1961-62, he took on the speaking role of the announcer in Jedermann.

Appointed as a professor at the Vienna Music Academy in 1948, he also taught at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Despite his teaching commitments, he continued his singing career until 1966. Occasionally, he worked as a conductor. After retiring, he lived in Rottach-Egern on Lake Tegernsee.

He was married to the singer Hedy Patzak-Walter, the daughter of renowned tenor Raoul Walter (1865-1917). His voice, musically refined and expressive, excelled equally in opera, oratorio (notably as the Evangelist in Bach’s Passions), and lieder. In addition to his Mozart roles, his portrayal of the title character in Pfitzner’s Palestrina was considered unsurpassed.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Doch heisst dich auch (Ma se m’è forza) 95267 707Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1929
2. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) O sag’ wenn ich fahr’ (Dì tu se fedele) 90062 1527BH I Grammophon, Berlin 1929
3. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Ha wie in meiner Seele entbrennet 66985 961Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1930
4. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Lied vom Kleinzach 66985 960Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1930
5. Così fan tutte (Mozart) Der Odem der Liebe (Un aura amorosa) 95437 1118Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1931
6. Don Giovanni (Mozart) Bande der Freundschaft (Dalla sua pace) 15080 474GS Grammophon, Berlin 1934-12-29
7. Don Giovanni (Mozart) Folget der Heissgeliebten (Il mio tesoro) 35029 547½GS Grammophon, Berlin 1935-08-25
8. Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart) Konstanze, dich wiederzusehen! 15080 475½GS Grammophon, Berlin 1934-12-29
9. Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart) Wenn der Freude Tränen fliessen 35029 546½GS Grammophon, Berlin 1935-08-25
10. Manon (Massenet) Flieh’, o flieh’ (Ah dispar, vision) 9526 708Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1929
11. Manon (Massenet) Ich schloss die Augen (En fermant) 900621528BH I Grammophon, Berlin 1929
12. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd 90181 2977BH I Grammophon, Berlin 1931
13. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Preislied 90181 2976BH I Grammophon, Berlin 1931
14. Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Es muss gelingen (Jak mozna verit) 95268 710Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1929
15. Rigoletto (Verdi) Liebe ist Seligkeit (È il sol dell’anima) (w. Berger) 67535 406GO8 Grammophon, Berlin 1936-06-24
16. Traviata (Verdi) Ach ihres Auges (De’ miei bollenti spiriti) 95268 709½Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1929
17. Traviata (Verdi) O lass uns fliehen (Parigi o cara) (w. Berger) 67535 407GO8 Grammophon, Berlin 1936-06-24
18. Trovatore (Verdi) Dass noch einmal (Mal reggendo) (w. Rünger) 67106 404GO8 Grammophon, Berlin 1936-06-23
19. Trovatore (Verdi) In uns’re Heimat (Ai nostri monti) (w. Rünger) 67106 405GO8 Grammophon, Berlin 1936-06-23
20. Werther (Massenet) Ein Andrer ist ihr Gemahl (Désolation) 35083 694GS Grammophon, Berlin 1937-06-28
21. Werther (Massenet) Was bin ich aufgewacht 30031 7191½GR8 Grammophon, Berlin 1937-06-28
22. Zauberflöte (Mozart) Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön 95437 958Bi I Grammophon, Berlin 1930