Description

MARCEL WITTRISCH (ANTWERP, BELGIUM, 1 OCTOBER, 1901 – STUTTGART, GERMANY, 3 JUNE, 1955)

He came from a German family that lived in Antwerp but had to leave Belgium in 1918, moving to Leipzig. He received his education at the conservatories in Munich and Leipzig, studying under teachers like Jacques Stückgold, and later completed his studies in Milan. He made his debut in 1925 at the Halle (Saale) Municipal Theater as Konrad in Marschner’s Hans Heiling. From 1926 to 1929, he sang at the Braunschweig State Theater.

In 1929, he was engaged by the Berlin State Opera, where he enjoyed a brilliant career until 1944. He was especially admired in lyric roles from French and Italian opera literature, but was particularly noted as a Mozart singer. In 1931, he performed in the German premiere of E. Wolf-Ferrari’s The Rogue Widow (La vedova scaltra) at the Berlin State Opera, followed by notable performances in Wagner’s Das Liebesverbot (1933), the title role in Hans Pfitzner’s Palestrina (1933), the memorable 1936 premiere of Moniuszko’s Halka, the 1940 premiere of Gotovac’s Ero the Rogue, and the 1937 premiere of Paul von Klenau’s Rembrandt van Rijn. In 1939, he also appeared in the premiere of R. Wagner-Régeny’s The Burghers of Calais.

He achieved great acclaim internationally, performing as Tamino in The Magic Flute and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus at Covent Garden Opera in 1931. He also made guest appearances at the Vienna and Munich State Operas, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Rio de Janeiro Opera, and La Scala in Milan. In 1937, he sang Lohengrin at the Bayreuth Festival. He was also a successful operetta and film singer, particularly excelling in operettas by Franz Lehár. In 1940, he performed at the Salzburg Festival in an operetta concert with Ester Réthy. He made guest appearances at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels (1934, 1935) and in Amsterdam (1936).

After World War II, he focused primarily on concert and operetta performances. In 1950 and 1954, he undertook tours of South Africa. In 1951, he sang Narraboth in Richard Strauss’s Salome at the Grand Opéra in Paris. From 1949 to 1955, he was a member of the Stuttgart State Opera, and he also made guest appearances at the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Volksoper (1950-1952). His expressive, radiant tenor voice was frequently compared to that of the great Richard Tauber.

TRACKLIST

1. Bettelstudent (Millöcker) Potpourri, pt 1 (w. Frind & Strienz) EH1006 2RA1644 HMV, Berlin 1936-12-03.mp3
2. Bettelstudent (Millöcker) Potpourri, pt 2 (w. Frind & Strienz) EH1006 2RA1645 HMV, Berlin 1936-12-03.mp3
3. Bohème (Puccini) Ach, Geliebte (w. Reinmar) E1756 019707 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-03-27.mp3
4. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Schäumt der süsse Wein DB4434 2RA639 HMV, Berlin 1935-05-24.mp3
5. Ein Liszt-Porträt Liebesträume (Liszt, arr Freilegrath) 1. Teil EH938 2RA806 HMV, Berlin 1935-10-15.mp3
6. Ein Liszt-Porträt Liebesträume (Liszt, arr Freilegrath) 2. Teil EH938  2RA807 HMV, Berlin 1935-10-15.mp3
7. Ernani (Verdi) Hier nimm! Wähle! Folge mir! (w. Strienz) DB4434 2RA640 HMV, Berlin 1935-05-24.mp3
8. Faust (Gounod) Es ist schon spät (w. Teschemacher) DB4459 2RA1251 HMV, Berlin 1936-04-28.mp3
9. Forza del destino (Verdi) In dieser heil’gen Stunde (w. Reinmar) E1756 019706 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-03-27.mp3
10. Frühling und Sonnenschein (Film Die Stimme des Herzens) (de Curtis) EG3897 0RA1816 HMV, Berlin 1937-02-09.mp3
11. Lakmé (Delibes) Woher kommst du… Ach, es ist der Gott der Jugend DB4443 2RA1113 HMV, Berlin 1936-03-05.mp3
12. Länder und Lieder, potpourri, pt 1 E1701 019859 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-06-08.mp3
13. Länder und Lieder, potpourri, pt 2 E1701 019860 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-06-08.mp3
14. Lohengrin (Wagner) Das süsse Lied verhallt (w. Teschemacher) 62-1061 2D1729 HMV, Berlin 1933-09-22.mp3
15. Lohengrin (Wagner) Höchstes Vertrau’n (w. Teschemacher) 62-1056 2D1730 HMV, Berlin 1933-09-22.mp3
16. Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land 62-1060 2D1728 HMV, Berlin 1933-09-22.mp3
17. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Wer in Euren Landen ‘nen Schmetterling 32-3838 2D1582 HMV, Berlin 1933-05-02.mp3
18. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Willst du nun endlich mir sagen (w. Giannini) 32-3837 2D1580 HMV, Berlin 1933-05-02.mp3
19. Otello (Verdi) Komme der Tod nun (w. Wieber) E1504 019345 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-10-02.mp3
20. Otello (Verdi) Nun in der nächt’gen Stille (w. Wieber) E1504 019344 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-10-02.mp3
21. Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Hier ist der Tempel… Das Glück, das grosse Glück (Je crois entendre) DB4430 2RA122 HMV, Berlin 1934-10-04.mp3
22. Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) Was sagt du, Freund… Ich sah sie am Altar (w. Hüsch) (Au fond du temple saint) DB4430 2RA123 HMV, Berlin 1934-10-04.mp3
23. Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) Mit der Mutter sank zu Grabe (w. Teschemacher) DB4538 2RA2895 HMV, Berlin 1938-05-04.mp3
24. Prodana Nevesta (Smetana) So find ich dich… Mein lieber Schatz (w. Teschemacher) DB4538 2RA2896 HMV, Berlin 1938-05-04.mp3
25. Rienzi (Wagner) Allmächt’ger Vater, blick herab EH965 2RA1112 HMV, Berlin 1936-03-26.mp3
26. Rosenlieder (Eulenburg) a) Monatsrose, b) Wilde Rose, c) Rankende Rose EH1002 2RA1550 HMV, Berlin 1936-10-22.mp3
27. Rosenlieder (Eulenburg) a) Seerose, b) Weisse und rote Rose EH1002 2RA1551 HMV, Berlin 1936-10-22.mp3
28. Trovatore (Verdi) Dass nur für mich den Herz erbebt E1495 019486 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-12-04.mp3
29. Vogelhändler (Zeller) Schenkt man sich Rosen in Tirol (w. Sack) E2222 020986 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-11-17.mp3
30. Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond EH965 2RA1111 HMV, Berlin 1936-03-05.mp3