Description

ELSA BLAND (VIENNA, 16 APRIL, 1880 – VIENNA, 27 SEPTEMBER, 1935)

 

 

 

 

She was celebrated as one of the finest German opera singers of her time. A pupil of Marianne Brandt in Vienna, she debuted in 1903 at the Municipal Theater of Olmütz (Olomouc) as Leonore in Fidelio. Her early engagements included the Municipal Theater of Magdeburg (1903–1904) and the Court Theater in Altenburg (1904–1905).

In 1905, she made a guest appearance at the Vienna Court Opera, where she subsequently became a member (1905–1908). After a hiatus, she rejoined the Vienna Court Opera in 1912 and performed there until 1913. During the 1912–1913 season, she sang at the German Opera House in Berlin, earning acclaim for roles such as Leonore in Fidelio and Martha in Eugen d’Albert’s Tiefland.

Her career featured numerous prominent guest appearances:

1908: Opera House of Riga.

1910: Teatro Costanzi in Rome (La Festa del Grano by Fino-Giario).

1911: Covent Garden, London (Amelia in Un ballo in maschera).

1910 & 1911: Teatro Regio in Torino (Isolde in Tristan und Isolde).

20 November 1910: Teatro Comunale in Bologna, premiere of Ottorino Respighi’s Semirama (title role).

She returned to the Vienna State Opera from 1920 to 1924 and appeared at other prestigious venues:

1919: Municipal Theater of Basel.

1923: Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, performing roles such as Isolde, Brünnhilde (Die Walküre), and Elektra (Elektra by R. Strauss).

Her extensive repertoire included Aida, Tosca, Elsa in Lohengrin, Salome (Salome by R. Strauss), and numerous Wagnerian roles. After retiring from the stage, she devoted herself to teaching singing in Vienna. She was married to Austrian captain Barthelmus.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Königin von Saba (Goldmark): Kommst du endlich wieder (w. Slezak) Gramophone 2-44426 13226u
2. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Romanze der Santuzza Pathé 19065
3. Lohengrin (Wagner): Fragmente Pathé 19064
4. Aida (Verdi) Als Sieger kehre heim!… pt 2 X-23354, X-23355 Zonophone, Wien
5. Walküre (Wagner): Walkürenruf Zonophone X-23339
6. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Als euer Sohn Zonophone X-23370
7. Königen von Saba (Goldmark): Arie der Königin Odeon X38384 Vx1397
8. Fidelio (Beethoven): Komm, Hoffnung Odeon X38379 Vx1401
9. Otello (Verdi): Wenn du erzählst (w. Schmedes) G&T 2-44485 13825u
10. Otello (Verdi): Komm der Tod nun! (w. Schmedes) G&T 2-44486 13826u
11. Trovatore (Verdi): Miserere (w. Slezak & chorus) Gramophone 2-44242 10864u
12. Trovatore (Verdi): Sieh’ meiner hellen Tränen (w. Demuth) Gramophone 2-44239 10837u
13. Aida (Verdi): Finale der grossen Arie 19066 Pathé cylinders & discs, Wien 1904/1905
14. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Lied der saffi Zonophone X-23325, Wien 1908
15. Walküre (Wagner) Walkürenruf X-23339 Zonophone, Wien 1908
16. Aida (Verdi): Nil-Arie X-23371 Zonophone, Wien
17. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): So stürben wir (w. Schmedes) Gramophone 2-44411 13156u
18. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): O sink’ hernieder (w. Schmedes) Gramophone 2-44412 13157u
19. Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Nimm von mir Lieb’ um Liebe (w. Slezak) G&T 2-44050 694r
20. Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Nein, ich darf nicht (w. Slezak) G&T 2-44033 695r
21. Aida (Verdi): Entflieh’n aus diesem Lande wir (w. Slezak) 2-44061 696r
22. Walküre (Wagner): Du bist der Lenz Zonophone X-23340
23. Lohengrin (Wagner): Euch Lüften G&T 43911 10789u
24. Tannhäuser (Wagner): Dich teure Halle G&T 43910 10788u
25. Ballo in maschera (Verdi) Ich bin dir nah (w. Slezak) 2-44425 13225u Gramophone, Wien 1908
26. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Ach, dies Herz (w. Hesch) 044070 0743v G&T, Wien 1907
27. Freischütz (Weber) All’ meine Pulse schlagen X-23326, Zonophone Wien 1908