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

 

 

Norma (Bellini) Was mich kräftigt (w. chorus) 3-42461 700r G&T, Wien 1905-12

Otello (Verdi) Fahr’ wohl 3-42736 9929u G&T, Wien 1906-12 (1907-01)

Otello (Verdi) Hab’ ich von ihrer Lust 4-42099 11968u G&T, Wien 1907

Otello (Verdi) Jeder Knabe (Othellos Tod) 3-42539 805r G&T, Wien 1905-12

Otello (Verdi) Leb’ wohl (Ora e per sempre addio) 19240 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905

Otello (Verdi) Leb’ wohl 3-42152 2404h G&T, Wien 1904-10

Otello (Verdi) O Gott! 4-42131 13158u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Otello (Verdi) Wenn du erzählst (w, Bland) 2-44485 13825u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 1-25039 5254⁒t Favorite, Wien 1912

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 2-42518 880x G&T, Wien 1902-06

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 4-42033 11747u G&T, Wien 1907

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Lache, Bajazzo 19241 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Nein, bin Bajazzo nicht mehr 042087 771f G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Scherzet immer 3-42725 9930u G&T, Wien 1906-12 (1907-01)

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Scherzet nur immer (Un tal gioco) 1-25029 771-f Favorite, Wien 1905-04-05

Parsifal (Wagner) Nur eine Waffe taugt 3-42049 779e G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Parsifal (Wagner) Nur eine Waffe taugt 3-42852 10918u G&T, Wien 1907

Pikova Dama (Tchaikovsky) Beherrschest du mein Fühlen 3-42504 804r G&T, Wien 1905-12