Description

FRITZ SCHRÖDTER (LEIPZIG, 15 MARCH, 1855 – WIEN, 15 JANUARY, 1924)

 

 

 

 

He first studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf before beginning his career as an operetta singer with smaller operetta societies in Cologne, Hamburg, and Bremen. In 1876, during a guest appearance at the Friedrich-Wilhelmstädtischen Theater in Berlin, he was noticed by Johann Strauss, who secured him an engagement at the National Theatre of Budapest. By 1877, he was performing as an operetta tenor at the Ring-Theater in Vienna. He furthered his studies under Kapellmeister Stoltz in Prague.

His opera debut took place in 1879 at the German Theatre in Prague, where he stayed until 1886. During this period, he performed roles such as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the Duke in Rigoletto, Enzo in La Gioconda by Ponchielli, and David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He also made a guest appearance at Covent Garden in London in 1884 under the baton of Hans Richter.

In 1886, he was engaged by the Vienna Court Opera, where he performed as both a Buffo tenor and in lyric tenor roles. He participated in several premieres, including Karl Goldmark’s Merlin (1886), Das Heimchen am Herd (1896), Ein Wintermärchen (1900), and Eugène d’Albert’s Die verschenkte Frau (1912). He also took part in the premiere of Weber’s Die drei Pintos in 1889.

In Vienna, his repertoire included roles such as Tonio in La Fille du régiment, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, the title roles in Auber’s Fra Diavolo and Flotow’s Alessandro Stradella, Canio in Pagliacci, Assad in Goldmark’s Königin von Saba, and Peter Ivanov in Lortzing’s Zar und Zimmermann. He remained a member of the Vienna Opera until 1915.

He also made guest appearances at the German Theatre in Prague (1884), the Opera House of Brünn (1890), the Court Opera in Munich (1901), and the Opera House in Cologne (1911). He performed at the Wiesbaden Festival from 1898 to 1900 and took part in the premiere of the operetta Das Dreimäderlhaus by H. Berté at the Vienna Raimund Theatre on January 15, 1916.

A highly respected concert singer, he performed the premiere of Gustav Mahler’s Das klagende Lied in Vienna on February 17, 1901. After retiring, he worked as a pedagogue in Vienna and was the father-in-law of the bass Wilhelm Hesch (1860-1908).

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1876 Budapest National Theatre

1877 Vienna Ring-Theater

1879-1886 Prague German Theatre

1884 Prague German Theatre

1884 London Covent Garden

1886-1915 Vienna Court Opera

1898-1900 Festival of Wiesbaden

1890 Brünn Opera House

1901 Munich Court Opera

1911 Cologne Opera House

1916 Vienna Raimund Theatre

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Carmen (Bizet): Blumenarie 42855 940x G&T, Wien 1902-04
2. Prodana Nevesta (Smetana): Weiss ich doch eine (w. Hesch) 44167 939x G&T, Wien 1902-04
3. Belle Hélène (Offenbach) Apfellied 4-42353, 14676u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
4. Bettelstudent (Millöcker) Ich knüpfte manche zarte Bande 4-42354, 14677u Gramophone, Wien 1909-05
5. Das Frührot leuchtet ins Tal hinein (Behr) 4-42370 15367u Gramophone, Wien 1909-10-18
6. Fledermaus (Strauss) Brüderlein und Schwesterlein 42776 2484B G&T, Wien 1902-05
7. Ich wollt’ ich wär ein Schmetterling (Delibes) 2-42025 2483B G&T, Wien 1902-05
8. Komm’, wir wandeln zusammen im Mondschein (Cornelius) 2-42521 901x G&T, Wien 1902-04
9. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am Jordan (Johannistag-Lied) 42757 2426B G&T, Wien 1902-04
10. Musica proibita (Gastaldon) 2-52730 15145u Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-21
11. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Ihr scherzet immer 042245, 01202v Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-21
12. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 42830 871x G&T, Wien 1902-04
13. Trovatore (Verdi) Dass nur für mich 42883 1013x G&T, Wien 1902-05
14. Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’ ich (Ständchen) 42071 2427B G&T, Wien 1902-04
15. Wie schön bist du die Lieb’ (A Grünfeld) 42829 870x G&T, Wien 1902-04
16. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 042244 01201v Gramophone, Wien 1909-09-21