Description

RUDOLF KRASA (LOKET, CZECH REPUBLIC, 16. 1. 1859 – BERLIN, GERMANY, 24. 7. 1936)

His vocal talent was discovered after his service as an officer in the Austrian artillery, when he participated in a concert with German students in Prague. The Prague pedagogue A. Vogel took over his training, after which he began his stage career at the Court Theater of Gera in Thuringia. In 1886, he joined the Berlin Court Opera, later performing at the City Theater of St. Gallen, and at the Court Theaters of Neustrelitz and Darmstadt, as well as the City Theater of Zurich, where he remained a member for many years.

He achieved sensational success in roles such as Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger (1898) and Alberich in Der Ring des Nibelungen (1899), leading to further roles including Biterolf in Tannhäuser and Fasolt in Das Rheingold. On December 13, 1904, he appeared at the Königliches Opernhaus in Berlin in the world premiere of Ruggero Leoncavallo’s opera Der Roland von Berlin. Prior to this, he sang in the world premieres of three operas by Wilhelm Kienzl: Der Evangelimann (May 4, 1895), Don Quixote (November 18, 1898), and Heilmar der Narr (January 28, 1902). He also participated in the world premiere of Victor Hansmann’s Enoch Arden in 1897 and in the posthumous production of Albert Lortzing’s Regina in 1899. After retiring in 1927, he taught singing in Berlin.

TRACKLIST

1. Aida (Verdi) Ich hab’ gekämpft (w. Kemp, Arndt-Ober, Jörn, Wiedemann, Knüpfer & chorus) 044264 1231½s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-10-24
2. Aida (Verdi) Zu des Niles heil’gen Ufern (w. Kemp, Arndt-Ober, Jörn, Knüpfer & chorus) 044263 1232½s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-10-24
3. Carmen (Bizet) Hallt ein, José (w. Destinn, Jörn, Bachmann, J Lieban & chorus) 2-44472 13915u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-10-17
4. Carmen (Bizet) Halt, zwischen den Felsen vergilt (w. Destinn, Nast, Dietrich, Parbs, Jörn, Bachmann, J Lieban & chorus) 044103 0839v Gramophone, Berlin 1908-10-17
5. Carmen (Bizet) Hola, Carmen, hola (w. Destinn, Dietrich, Parbs, Jörn, J Lieban, Dahn & chorus) 044100 0844v Gramophone, Berlin 1908-10-20
6. Carmen (Bizet) Kommt herein (w. Metzger, Dietrich, Parbs & J Lieban) 044098 900i Gramophone, Berlin 1908-11-17
7. Carmen (Bizet) Nur mutig (w. Destinn, Dietrich, Parbs, Jörn, J Lieban & chorus) 044101 0838v Gramophone, Berlin 1908-10-17
8. Carmen (Bizet) Sag, wen erwartest du (w. Jörn, Destinn, Dietrich, Parbs, J Lieban & chorus) 4-42181 13897u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-10-15
9. Carmen (Bizet) Was gibt’s (w. Destinn, Dietrich, Parbs, Jörn, J Lieban & chorus) 2-44470 13914u Gramophone, Berlin 1908-10-17
10. Parsifal (Wagner) Des Weihgefässes göttlicher Gehalt (w. Bronsgeest & chorus) 044249 1304s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-12-04
11. Parsifal (Wagner) Mein Sohn Amfortas (w. Bronsgeest & chorus) 044248 1305s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-12-04
12. Parsifal (Wagner) Nehmet hin meinen Leib (w. chorus) 042429 1303s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-12-04
13. Rheingold (Wagner) Sanft schloss Schlaf dein Aug’ (w. Körfer & Knüpfer) 044243 1136s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-08-23
14. Rheingold (Wagner) Wie schlau für Ernst du achtest (w. Körfer & Knüpfer) 044244 1137s Gramophone, Berlin 1913-08-23