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

 

 

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Er fiel, er starb with Stehmann and Hesch 2-44109 4272L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Entrée des Raoul 042090 773f G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Ich grolle nicht (Schumann) 3-42540 4128L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Iphigenie auf Tauris (Gluck) Der Priester wagt 4-42098 11745u G&T, Wien 1907

Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Du Ew’ger, der mein Aug’ gelichtet 3-42774 9997u G&T, Wien 1906-12

Königin von Saba (Goldmark) Duett Salomon-Assad (w. Weidemann) 044046 804f G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Lohengrin (Wagner) Abschied 1-25036 5252-t Favorite, Wien 1912

Lohengrin (Wagner) Atmest du nicht 2-42579 758z G&T, Wien 1903-08

Lohengrin (Wagner) Atmest du nicht 3-42580 4237L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Lohengrin (Wagner) Das süsse Lied verhallt (w. Elizza) 3-44077 15043u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-27

Lohengrin (Wagner) Das süsse Lied verhallt (w. Sedlmair) 044023 56Hp G&T, Wien 1903-08

Lohengrin (Wagner) Gralserzählung 1-25035 5251-t Favorite, Wien 1912

Lohengrin (Wagner) Höchstes Vertrauen 1-25038x 5258-t- Favorite, Wien 1912

Lohengrin (Wagner) Höchstes Vertrau’n 3-42562 4236L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Lohengrin (Wagner) Höchstes Vertrau’n 42820 879x G&T, Wien 1902-06

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 2-42008 2379B  G&T, Wien 1902-06

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 042132 269m G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 42897 882x G&T, Wien 1902-06