Description

EDUARD HABICH (KASSEL, GERMANY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1880 – BERLIN, GERMANY, MARCH 15, 1960)

 

 

 

 

He attended the Raff Conservatory in Frankfurt a. M., where he studied under Max Fleisch. He began his stage career in the 1904-1905 season with an engagement at the City Theater in Koblenz. In the 1905-1906 season he appeared at the Theater von Posen (Poznań), from 1906 to 1907 he sang at the City Theater in Halle/Saale, from 1907 to 1910 he performed at the Opera House in Düsseldorf, and from 1910 to 1930 he was engaged by the Hofoper in Berlin (renamed the State Opera in 1918).

In Berlin, he took part in several important premieres, including E. Křenek’s Die Zwingburg (1924) and Franz Schreker’s Der singende Teufel (1928). He made numerous guest appearances: in 1908 in Amsterdam and Rotterdam; in 1929 and 1942 at the Sopot Festival (as Alberich and Beckmesser); in 1930 and 1933 at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva (as Alberich in Ring performances); in 1933 at the Stadttheater in Basel; in 1934 at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels; in 1935 at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires; and in the same year at the Monte Carlo Opera (again as Alberich).

His stage repertoire included Masetto in Don Giovanni, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Monterone in Rigoletto, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, Colline in La Bohème, Escamillo in Carmen, Laërte in Mignon, and Harlequin in R. Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. His signature role, however, was Alberich in Wagner’s Ring cycle, which he also sang at the Bayreuth Festival (1911, 1912, 1914, and 1924-1931). At Bayreuth, he also appeared as Klingsor in Parsifal and, in 1912 and 1924-1927, as Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde. He also sang Klingsor in the 1914 Berlin premiere of Parsifal.

From 1924 to 1936 (and again in 1938), he was a regular guest at the Covent Garden Opera in London. In 1928 he returned to Amsterdam, and in the 1930-1932 seasons he sang at the Chicago Opera. From 1935 to 1937 he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he made his debut as the Father in Hänsel und Gretel. In 1939 he appeared at the State Theater in Kassel in the premiere of Paul von Klenau’s Elisabeth von England. In 1944 he was still active, returning as a guest to his hometown theater in Kassel to sing Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

After his long career, he taught singing in Berlin. He was married to the singer Mathilde Schrecker, who had engagements in Koblenz, Krefeld, and Düsseldorf.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Also ich Meinst du es wirklich (w. von Skilondz) 044239 266al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-02

Der Freischütz (Weber) Schaut der Herr mich an als König 50046 50046 Homokord, Berlin 1911

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Reich’ mir die Hand (w. von Skilondz) 3-44103 1575ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-02

Elisir d’amore (Donizetti) Ihr liebet den Gesang (w. von Skilondz & chorus) 044238 270al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-03

Evangelimann (Kienzl) Wir halten uns umwunden (w. Kemp & Kraus) 044285 900m Grammophon, Berlin 1915

Götterdämmerung (Wagner) In Leid zu dem Wipfel (w. Kraus, Neuendahm & chorus) 044225 280al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-11

Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Mime hiess ein mürrischer Zwerg (w. Kraus) 044224 279al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-09

Guillaume Tell (Rossini) Ha, wohin (w. Jadlowker) 3-44158 18615L Gramophone, Berlin 1916-04

Lohengrin (Wagner) Du kündest nun dein wahr’ Gericht (Königsgebet pt 2) (w. van Endert, Arndt-Ober, Knüpfer, Sommer & chorus) 044230 299al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-06

Lohengrin (Wagner) Gott grüß euch (w. Andrésen & chorus) P9249 2-20401 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-13

Lohengrin (Wagner) Königsgebet, 2 Teil Du kündest nun dein wahr’ Gericht (w. van Endert, Arndt-Ober, Knüpfer, Sommer & chorus) 044230 299al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-06

Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein Herr und Gott (w. Andrésen) P9249 2-20402 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-10-13

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) So lang’ hab’ ich geschmachtet (w. von Skilondz) 3-44106 2147ak Gramophone, Berlin 1913-04-10

Parsifal (Wagner) Nie sollst du ihn finden! (w. Denera & Berger) 044262, 1313s Gramophone, Berlin 1914-01-15

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Der alte Weise (w. Kraus) 044311, 852m Grammophon, Berlin 1915-05

Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Kurnewal, hör (w. Andrésen, Noe & Guszalewicz) 2-044032 CwR1327 HMV, Berlin 1927-11-09

Troubadour (Verdi) Wilde Eifersucht im Herzen (w. Denera & Jadlowker) X 52868 xB 5021 Odeon, Berlin 1910?

Undine (Lortzing) O kehr zurück (w. Schrecker-Habich) 50044 50044 Homokord, Berlin 1911