Description

ERICH WITTE (GRAUDENZ, GERMANY (TODAY GRUDZIĄDZ, POLAND), 19 MARCH, 1911 – BERLIN, GERMANY, 1 JULY 2008)

 

 

 

 

This versatile artist began his career as an actor and accompanist before pursuing voice studies at the Bremen Conservatory under P. Kraus. He made his debut in 1930 in Bremen as Nando in Eugen d’Albert’s Tiefland and soon sang at the Bremerhaven City Theater in 1931. He returned to the Bremen City Theater in 1932, where he remained a member for five years. In 1937, he joined the Wiesbaden State Theater, where he excelled as a tenor buffo, a role that led to his engagement at the New York Metropolitan Opera for the 1938–39 season.

He made guest appearances at the Vienna State Opera in 1938 and 1940, the Monte Carlo Opera in 1936 and 1937 (notably as Mime in Der Ring des Nibelungen), and at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1938. From 1940 to 1942, he sang at the Breslau Opera House, participating in the world premiere of Hans Stieber’s Der Dombaumeister on February 7, 1942. He then joined the Berlin State Opera ensemble in 1941, performing regularly there until 1960. He sang David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Bayreuth Festival in 1943–44 and returned in 1952–53 as Loge in the Ring cycle, a role that gained him significant acclaim, especially during his performances in London.

As his career progressed, he took on more dramatic roles such as Otello, Florestan in Fidelio, and the title role in Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes, while continuing to perform his celebrated portrayal of Loge. From 1961 to 1964, he served as senior director at the Frankfurt Opera, then returned to the Berlin State Opera, where he worked as both a director and singer into the 1970s. In Frankfurt in 1962, he participated in the world premiere of Louise Talma’s Alkestiade, and in Berlin, he performed in Joe Hill by Alan Bush in 1970 and Meister Röckle by Joachim Werzlau in 1976. He was known for directing Wagner operas and, starting in 1970, served as a lecturer at the Berlin Music Academy.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Abu Hassan (von Weber) Tränen sollst du nicht vergiessen with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Chorus And Symphony Orchestra Radio Berlin, Leopold Ludwig
2. Abu Hassan (von Weber) Was nun zu machen, Chorus And Symphony Orchestra Radio Berlin, Leopold Ludwig
3. Das Rheingold (Wagner) Immer ist Undank Loges Lohn, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth
4. Das Rheingold (Wagner) Über Stock und Stein zu Tal, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth
5. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (R. Wagner) Am Jordan Sankt Johannes stand with Paul Schöffler
6. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (R. Wagner) Gleich, Meister! Hier!, Bayreuther Festspiele 1943, Hermann Abendroth
7. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (R. Wagner) Mein Herr, der Singer Meister-Schlag with Ludwig Suthaus, Bayreuther Festspiele 1943, Hermann Abendroth
8. Lohengrin (Wagner) Gralserzählung, Leo Blech
9. Millöcker-Melodien Großes Potpourri; 1. Teil M. Schönherr with Traute Rose 0 14 104 K-C 0459 Imperial
10. Millöcker-Melodien Großes Potpourri; 2. Teil M. Schönherr with Traute Rose 0 14 104 K-C 0460 Imperial
11. Otello (Verdi) Gott, warum hast du gehäuft, Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig, Franz Konwitschny
12. Otello (Verdi) Jeder Knabe kann mein Schwert mir entreißen, Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig, Franz Konwitschny