Description

FELICIE HÜNI-MIHACSEK (PÉCS, 3 APRIL, 1891 –MUNICH, 26 MARCH, 1976)

 

 

 

 

She studied at the Vienna Music Academy under Rosa Papier-Paumgartner. She began her career in the 1916–17 season at the Hamburg Stadttheater. In 1919, she made her debut at the Vienna State Opera, where she also took part in the premiere of Richard Strauss’s Die Frau ohne Schatten (October 10, 1919). She remained with the company until 1925, after which she was appointed to the Munich State Opera, where she was prima donna for the next twenty years.

In Munich, she appeared in several important premieres, including Hans Pfitzner’s Das Herz (November 12, 1931) and Robert Heger’s Der Bettler Namenlos (1932). On March 2, 1937, she sang in the Dresden premiere of Othmar Schoeck’s Massimilla Doni.

She enjoyed particular success at the Salzburg Festival: in 1922 she appeared as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Donna Elvira, and the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro. In 1939, she returned as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and in 1949 she sang the soprano solo in Haydn’s Die Schöpfung. Originally a coloratura soprano, she later expanded her repertoire to lyric and even dramatic soprano roles in Munich.

She frequently returned as a guest to the Vienna State Opera, rejoining the ensemble from 1942 to 1945. She also performed abroad: in 1924 she toured Holland with the Vienna Opera ensemble, in 1927 she appeared at the Zurich City Theatre, in 1928 at the Kroll Opera in Berlin in Hindemith’s Cardillac, in 1935 as a concert soloist in London and Budapest, in 1939 at the Frankfurt Opera as the Marschallin, and in 1941 at the Deutsches Theater in Prague.

She married the Swiss industrialist Alfred Hüni. After retiring from the stage in 1945, she appeared only occasionally in concerts and devoted herself to teaching. In 1953, however, she made a celebrated return to the Munich Opera as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier.

Her voice was exceptionally well trained, combining flawless technique with richness and brilliance of tone, as well as great subtlety of expression. She recorded almost exclusively for Polydor, and also made several recordings of sacred vocal music for the Austrian label Christschall.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Aida (Verdi) Es hat der Stein sich über mir geschlossen (w. Roswaenge) 66767 1210bm I GrammophonPolydor, 1928

Aida (Verdi) Sieh’ dort den Todesengel schon (w. Roswaenge) 66767 1211bm I Grammophon 1928

Alessandro Stradella (Flotow) Alles teile unser 66616 136be Grammophon, 1927

Attollite portas, pt 1 (Ett) (w. Willer, Janco & Hann) 111 4422 Christschall, München

Attollite portas, pt 2 (Ett) (w. Willer, Janco & Hann) 111 4423 Christschall, München

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Frag’ ich mein beklommenes Herz, pt 1 66761 1198bm I Grammophon, 1928

Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Frag’ ich mein beklommenes Herz, pt 2 66761 1199bm I Grammophon, 1928

Bohème (Puccini) Lebt wohl ihr süssen Stunden (Addio dolce svegliare) (w. Roswaenge, de Garmo & Scheidl) 66764 1204½bm I Grammophon, 1928

Bohème (Puccini) Marcel, da bist du (w. Roswaenge & Scheidl) 66764 1205½bm I Grammophon, 1928

Carmen (Bizet) Diese Menge im Gedränge (w. Domgraf-Fassbaender) 95451 1639BM I Grammophon, 1929

Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Barcarole (w. Domgraf-Fassbaender) 66862 1641BM I Grammophon, 1929

Così fan tutte (Mozart) O verzeih Geliebter, pt 1 pt 2 66613, 66613, 139be, 140be Grammophon, 1927

Das Schweizerlied (Ferdinand Huber) 44009 1665 ar Grammophon, 1922

Das Schwyzerhüsli (Franz Abt) 44010 1666 ar Grammophon, 1922

Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Recitativ und Arie (Nun eilt herbei); I. Teil B 24351 131 be Grammophon, 1926/1927

Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Recitativ und Arie (Nun eilt herbei); II. Teil B 24352 132 be Grammophon, 1926/1927

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Mich verlässt der Undankbare 66614 142½be Grammophon, 1927

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Reich’ mir die Hand (w. Domgraf-Fassbaender) 62669 1929BK I Grammophon, 1929

Don Giovanni (Mozart) Über alles 66614 141be Grammophon, 1927

Entführung aus dem Serail (Mozart) Ach ich liebte 65638 823 as Grammophon 1923