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

 

 

Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiede, mein Hammer (Schmiedelied) 2-42731 886z G&T, Wien 1903-08

Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiede, mein Hammer (Schwertlied) 4-42034 11748u G&T, Wien 1907

Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiedelied 19246 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Dir töne Lob 1-25037x 5253-t- Favorite, Wien 1912

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Inbrunst im Herzen 042290 2071c Gramophone, Wien 1910-10-28

Templar und Jüdin (Marschner) Du stolzes England, freue dich 3-42563 4274L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Tiefland (d’Albert) Ich grüss’ noch einmal meine Berge 4-42132 12946u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Tiefland (d’Albert) Schau’ her (Wolfserzählung) 4-42110 13155u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Tiefland (d’Albert) Zwei Vaterunser (Traum des Pedro) 4-42108 12947u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Tosca (Puccini) Arie (E lucevan le stelle) 19247 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1905

Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 2-52720 13827u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Tosca (Puccini) Nun höre mich an (w. Elizza) 3-44076 15044u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-27

Tosca (Puccini) Und es blitzten die Sterne 1-25042x 5256-t Favorite, Wien 1912

Tosca (Puccini) Wie sich die Bilder 1-25041x 5255-t Favorite, Wien 1912

Tosca (Puccini) Wie sich die Bilder gleichen 4-42293 15112u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-16

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) O sink’ hernieder (w. Sedlmair) 044039 55Hp G&T, Wien 1903-08

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) So stürben wir… O sink’ hernieder (w. Bland) 2-44411, 2-44412, 13156u, 13157u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Wie sie selig 3-42946 11746u G&T, Wien 1907