Description

ERIK SCHMEDES (GENTOFTE, DENMARK, 27 AUGUST, 1868 – AUSTRIA, VIENNA, 21 MARCH, 1931)

His brother Hakon Schmedes later became a well-known violinist, and another brother, Paul Schmedes (1869-1930), became a successful concert tenor. Erik initially studied piano in Copenhagen before receiving his musical education in 1888 in Berlin. On the suggestion of Pauline Viardot-Garcia, he switched to singing, studying first with Nikolaus Rothmühl in Berlin, then with Johannes Ress in Vienna, and finally with Mariano Padilla y Ramos in Paris. He made his debut as a baritone in 1891 at the Court Theatre of Wiesbaden, performing as Valentin in Faust.

From 1893 to 1896, Erik sang at the Municipal Theatre of Nuremberg. However, Bernhard Pollini, the manager of the Hamburg Opera, recognized his potential as a tenor. After further study with August Iffert in Dresden, Erik transitioned to the heroic tenor repertoire, making his tenor debut in the 1896-97 season at the Dresden Court Opera.

In 1898, Erik Schmedes was engaged by the Vienna Court Opera (now the Vienna State Opera), debuting as Siegfried in Wagner’s Siegfried. He remained a favorite tenor of the Vienna audience for over 25 years. In 1908, he performed the title role of Pedro in the Vienna premiere of Eugen d’Albert’s Tiefland. In 1914, he sang the title role in the Vienna premiere of Wagner’s Parsifal, and in 1919, he performed the lead role in the premiere of Pfitzner’s Palestrina. In 1910, he also appeared in the premiere of Julius Bittner’s opera Der Musikant.

Schmedes became famous for his interpretations of Wagnerian roles, particularly Siegfried and Parsifal, but he was also celebrated as Florestan in Fidelio and as Palestrina. He appeared at the Bayreuth Festival in 1899, during the 1901-02 season, and again in 1906, achieving great success in Wagner’s Siegfried and Parsifal. During the 1908-09 season, he sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he made his debut as Siegmund in Die Walküre. He also performed the role of Pedro in the American premiere of d’Albert’s Tiefland in 1908.

Schmedes retired from the stage in 1924, with his final performance as Matthias in Wilhelm Kienzl’s Der Evangelimann at the Vienna State Opera. After retiring, he became a pedagogue in Vienna, where one of his notable pupils was the famous soprano Maria Müller. His daughter, Dagmar Schmedes, also became a renowned soprano.

TRACKLIST

1. Muette de Portici (Auber) Barcarole 3-42756 9998u G&T, Wien 1906-12
2. Norma (Bellini) Was mich kraftigt (w. chorus) 3-42461 700r G&T, Wien 1905-12
3. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 1-25039 5254?t Favorite, Wien 1912
4. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Lache, Bajazzo 19241 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905
5. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Scherzet nur immer (Un tal gioco) 1-25029 771-f Favorite, Wien 1905-04-05
6. Parsifal (Wagner) Nur eine Waffe taugt 3-42852 10918u G&T, Wien 1907
7. Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky) Beherrschest du mein Fuhlen 3-42504 804r G&T, Wien 1905-12
8. Prophete (Meyerbeer) Trinklied 3-42723 9928u G&T, Wien 1906-12
9. Rheingold (Wagner) Soweit Leben und Weben (Loges Erzahlung)  42998 878x G&T, Wien 1902-06
10. Rienzi (Wagner) Erstehe, hohe Roma 2-42574 757z G&T, Wien 1903-08
11. Rienzi (Wagner) Erstehe, hohe Roma 19242 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905
12. Rienzi (Wagner) Erstehe, hohe Roma with chorus  3-42414 702r G&T, Wien 1905-12
13. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens) Israel werde frei 3-42890, 10920u G&T, Wien 1907
14. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens) Ist der Herr nicht bei dir 3-42854 10919u G&T, Wien 1907
15. Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiede, mein Hammer (Schmiedelied) 2-42731 886z G&T, Wien 1903-08
16. Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiedelied 19246 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905
17. Tiefland (d’Albert) Ich gruss’ noch einmal meine Berge 4-42132 12946u Gramophone, Wien 1908
18. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) O sink’ hernieder (w. Bland) 2-44412 13157u Gramophone, Wien 1908
19. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) O sink’ hernieder (w. Sedlmair) 044039 55Hp G&T, Wien 1903-08
20. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) So sturben wir (w. Bland) 2-44411 13156u Gramophone, Wien 1908
21. Trovatore (Verdi) Terzetto (w. Kittel & Elizza) 2-44027 651r G&T, Wien 1905-12
22. Walkure (Wagner) Wintersturme 1-25046 773-f Favorite, Wien 1905-04-05
23. Walkure (Wagner) Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond 1-25033 5249-t Favorite, Wien 1912
24. Walkure (Wagner) Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond 42819 877x G&T, Wien 1902-06
25. Winterlied (Koss) 3-42618 4132L G&T, Wien 1906-05/06