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

 

 

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Wie sie selig 677r Unpubl., G&T Wien 1905

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Wohl kenn’ ich Irlands Königin 676r Unpubl., G&T, Wien 1905

Trovatore (Verdi) Szene und Romanze (w. Weidemann) 44431 899e G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Trovatore (Verdi) Terzett (w. Elizza & Weidemann) 2-44026 650r G&T, Wien 1905-12

Trovatore (Verdi) Terzetto Hermine Kittel, Elizza Elise 2-44027 651r G&T, Wien 1905-12

Walküre (Wagner) Duett, act 1 (w. Weidt) 044047 806f G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)

Walküre (Wagner) Ein Schwert verhiess, pt 1, pt 2 3-42980, 3-42981, 11840u, 11841u G&T, Wien 1907

Walküre (Wagner) Siegmund heiss’ ich 4-42100 11842u G&T, Wien 1907

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme 1-25046 773-f Favorite, Wien 1905-04-05

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme 3-42485 747r G&T, Wien 1905-12

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme 4-42219 13828u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond 1-25033 5249-t Favorite, Wien 1912

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond 42819 877x G&T, Wien 1902-06

Werther (Massenet) O wie süss 4-42161 13836u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Werther (Massenet) Was bin ich aufgewacht 4-42160 13835u Gramophone, Wien 1908

Winterlied (Koss) 3-42618 4132L G&T, Wien 1906-0506

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Bildnisarie 042088 772f G&T, Wien 1904 (medio)