Description

PETER ANDERS (ESSEN, 1 JULY, 1908 – HAMBURG, 10 SEPTEMBER, 1954)

Peter Anders, born Emil Anders, initially pursued a career as a book reviewer before training in voice with Ernst Grenzebach at the Berlin Music Academy. He further refined his skills under the tutelage of Lula Mysz-Gmeiner, whom he married after falling in love with her daughter, Susanne Mysz-Gmeiner. His early stage success came in 1931 with Max Reinhardt’s production of Jacques Offenbach’s La belle Hélène in Berlin, performing under the name Emil Anders. In 1934, he adopted the stage name Peter Anders.

His official operatic debut occurred in 1932 at the Stadttheater in Heidelberg, where he sang the role of Jacquino in Beethoven’s Fidelio. From 1933 to 1935, Anders performed at the State Theater in Darmstadt, followed by a year at the Opera House in Cologne (1935-1936). His career trajectory took him to the State Theater in Hanover (1937-1938), and then to the Munich State Opera from 1938 to 1940, where he notably participated in the world premiere of Richard Strauss’ Der Friedenstag on July 14, 1938.

In 1940, Anders was engaged by the Berlin State Opera, where he remained until 1948. During his tenure there, he took part in two significant world premieres: Fried Walter’s Andreas Wolfius in 1940 and Othmar Schoeck’s Schloß Dürande in 1943. He also gained international acclaim, particularly at the Salzburg Festival, where he sang Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in 1941 and performed the tenor solo in Verdi’s Requiem in 1942.

After World War II, Anders became one of Germany’s most celebrated tenors. In 1948, he joined the Hamburg Opera, where he expanded his repertoire to include heroic tenor roles. His debut in this genre was Radames in Verdi’s Aida. His success continued with notable performances as Otello in Verdi’s Otello (1950), Walther von Stolzing in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and Siegmund in Die Walküre (1953).

Anders also performed internationally. In 1950, he sang Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos at both the Glyndebourne and Edinburgh Festivals. In 1952, he reprised the role of Walther von Stolzing at the Festival of Britain at Covent Garden, followed by guest performances in Amsterdam, The Hague, Brussels, and other European cities.

His radio broadcasts further solidified his popularity, particularly for his operetta performances. Tragically, on September 4, 1954, six days before his untimely death in a car accident, Peter Anders gave his final concert in Plettenberg, Westphalia. His legacy continued through his daughter, Sylvia Anders, who became known as both a singer and an actress.

TRACKLIST

1. Carmen (Bizet) Hier an dem Herzen treu geborgen (Blumenarie) E1761 020287-I Telefunken, Berlin 1934-11-26
2. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Nein, nein, Turiddu (w. Rautawaara) E1807 020570 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-02-18
3. Eine Nacht in Venedig (Strauss) Komm in die Gondel A1834 20831 Telefunken, Berlin 1935
4. Eine Nacht in Venedig (Strauss) Treu sein, das liegt mir nicht A1834 20832 Telefunken, Berlin 1935
5. Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart) Konstanze, dich wiederzusehen E1867 020749 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-04-05
6. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Wohin seid ihr entschwunden E1761 020288 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-11-26
7. Fanciulla del West (Puccini) Lasset sie glauben A1478 19242 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-08-17
8. Fledermaus (Strauss) Querschnitt, pt 1 (w. Berger, Friedrich, Frind, Müller & Fuchs) E1456 019260 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-08
9. Fledermaus (Strauss) Querschnitt, pt 2 (w. Berger, Friedrich, Frind, Müller & Fuchs) E1456 019261 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-08-28
10. Für dich allein, Lucia (date) A1758 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-01-12
11. Ich liebe alle Frauen (Stolz) Ob blond, ob braun, ich liebe alle Frau’n A1857 20917 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-09-08
12. Ich liebe alle Frauen (Stolz) Schenk mir dein Herz heute nacht A185 20916 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-09-08
13. Komponisten-Bildnis Carl Maria von Weber, pt 1 (w. Petzold) E1792 020417 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-01-12
14. Komponisten-Bildnis Carl Maria von Weber, pt 2 (w. Petzold) E1792 020418 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-01-12
15. Komponisten-Bildnis Peter Tchaikowsky, pt 2 E1888 020890 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-08-21
16. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Liebesduett, pt 1 (w. Rautawaara) E1853 020751 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-04-05
17. Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Liebesduett, pt 2 (w. Rautawaara) E1853 020752 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-04-05
18. Manon Lescaut (Puccini) Wo lebte wohl ein Wesen A1478 19243 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-08-17
19. Mein Herz ruft immer nur nach dir, o Marita (Stolz) A1641 19749 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-04-14
20. Postillon de Longjumeau (Adam) Freunde, vernehmet die Geschichte A1901 21016 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-11-25
21. Rigoletto (Verdi) Querschnitt, pt 1 (w. Bischof & Reinmar) E1509 019364 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-10-16
22. Rigoletto (Verdi) Querschnitt, pt 2 (w. Bischof, Ruziczka & Reinmar) E1509 019365 Telefunken, Berlin 1933-10-16
23. Tausend rote Rosen blüh’n in dem Land der Liebe (Meisel) A1641 19750 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-04-14
24. Tiefland (d’Albert) Querschnitt, pt 1 (w. Gura, Spletter & Nissen) E1873 020887 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-08-21
25. Tiefland (d’Albert) Querschnitt, pt 2 (w. Gura, Spletter & Nissen) E1873 020888 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-08-21
26. Traviata (Verdi) Querschnitt, pt 1 (w. Pfahl & Fuchs) E1733 020285-I(-51) Telefunken, Berlin 1934-11-26.mp3
27. Traviata (Verdi) Querschnitt, pt 2 (w. Pfahl) E1733 020286-I(-51) Telefunken, Berlin 1934-11-26
28. Trovatore (Verdi) Querschnitt, pt 1 (w. Rautawaara & Klose) E1715 020114 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-10-10
29. Trovatore (Verdi) Querschnitt, pt 2 (w. Rautawaara & Klose) E1715 020115 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-10-10
30. Über die Prärie (Friml) A1758 20403 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-01-12
31. Vetter aus Dingsda (Künnecke) Ich bin nur ein armer Wandergesell A1901 21017 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-11-25
32. Zauberflöte (Mozart) Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön E1867 020750 Telefunken, Berlin 1935-04-05
33. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Querschnitt, pt 1 (w. Gura) E1673 019779 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-04-16
34. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Querschnitt, pt 2 (w. Gura) E1673 019780 Telefunken, Berlin 1934-04-16