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

 

 

Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan (Abschied) 1-25030 772-f Favorite, Wien 1905-04-05

Lohengrin (Wagner) Nun sei bedankt (Schwanenlied) 2-42078 975’c G&T, Wien 1903-08

Lohengrin (Wagner) Nun sei bedankt 3-42620 4238L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Lohengrin (Wagner) O Elsa, nur ein Jahr 3-42619 4235L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) Sextett (with Elizza, Lukschic, Preuss, Weidemann, Mayr and chorus) 44432 2444h G&T, Wien 1904-10

Manon (Massenet) Der Traum 3-42737 9933u G&T, Wien 1906-12 (1907-01)

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd 2-42757 885½z G&T, Wien 1903-08

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd 19248 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Fanget an 042086 770f G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend 2-42519 881x G&T, Wien 1902-06

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend W7117 7117 oE Lyrophon, 1905-1906

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Preislied 1-25034 5250-t Favorite, Wien 1912

Mir träumte einst ein schöner Traum (Ein Traum) (Grieg) 42709 2378B G&T, Wien 1902-06

Morgenhymne (Henschel) 3-42561 4130L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Muette de Portici (Auber) Barcarole 3-42756 9998u G&T, Wien 1906-12

Neue Gesangschule System (Eugen Fischer) Arpeggien 4-42314 15268u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-07

Neue Gesangschule System (Eugen Fischer) Solfeggien 4-42316 15270u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-07

Norma (Bellini) Mit Adalgisa Hand in Hand 3-42501 749r G&T, Wien 1905-12