Description

KARIN BRANZELL (STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, SEPTEMBER 24, 1891 – ALTADENA, CIFORNIA, USA, DECEMBER 14, 1974)

Originally she was an organist in Stockholm, then she studied singing under Thekla Hofer in Stockholm, with Ludwig Mantler and Louis Bachner in Berlin, and finally with famous vocal pedagogue Enrico Rosati in New York. She made her debut in 1912 at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, where she stayed until 1918. Her debut role was the Prince Sarvilaka in ‘’Izeyl’’ of d’Albert. From 1918 to 1933 she was a member of the Staatsoper in Berlin (guest role: Fricka in ‘’Walküre’’). Here she appeared in 1919 in the premiere of Hans Pfitzner’s opera ‘’Palestrina’’, in 1920 in the premiere of R. Straus’s ‘’Frau ohne Schatten’’. In 1924 she joined to the Metropolitan Opera in New York (debut: Fricka in ‘’Walküre’’), where she performed until her retirement from the stage (1951). She was there from 1924 to 1942, then again in 1944 and finally engaged in the 1950-51 season. She sang primarily Wagner roles there, but also appeared as Amneris in ‘’Aida’’, Dalila in ‘’Samson et Dalila’’ and as Herodias in ‘’Salome’’. In 1931 she appeared in the Metropolitan premiere of Weinberger’s ‘’Schwanda, der Dudelsackpfeifer’’ as Queen. In 1926, 1934 and in 1938 she made guest appearances at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. In the 1930-1931 season she sang at the Bayreuth Festival. She also performed in Paris, at the Vienna State Opera (1921), in Milan, London (1935-1938, Covent Garden Opera), Brussels (1941), Leningrad (1935), Chicago and San Francisco. From 1935 to 1939 she participated at the Munich Summer Festival, in 1922 and 1939 she performed in Zurich, in 1934 at the Opera in Rio de Janeiro. In the 1950-1951 season she appeared for the last time at the stage of the Metropolitan Opera as Erda. Married the painter Einar Eduardsen, who died in 1929; later she appeared under the name Karin Branzell-Reinshagen. From 1946 to 1950 she taught singing at the Juilliard School in New York, from 1952 to 1958 at the Adelphi School of Music, also in New York. Later she lived in California. Her students were Jean Madeira, Nell Rankin and Mignon Dunn. In 1932 she awarded the Swedish Order ‘’Litteris et artibus’’, in 1936 Swedish court singer.

TRACKLIST

1. Aida (Verdi) Wohl war euch das Los, pt 1 (w. Bettendorf) P9565, 2-21105 Parlophon, Berlin 1928-11-28
2. Contes d’Hoffmann (Offenbach) Barcarole (w. Bettendorf) P9371 2-21102 Parlophon, Berlin 1928-11-28
3. Der Tod und das Mädchen (Schubert) P9811 2-20440 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-11-09
4. Der Wanderer (Brahms) P9811 2-20441 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-11-09
5. Gioconda (Ponchielli) Voce di donna P9804 2-20436 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-11-07
6. Lohengrin (Wagner) Entweihte Götter, pt 1 (w. Bettendorf) P9497, 2-21103 Parlophon, Berlin 1928-11-28
7. Lohengrin (Wagner) Entweihte Götter, pt 2 (w. Bettendorf) P9497 2-21104 Parlophon, Berlin 1928-11-28
8. Still wie die Nacht (Bohm) P9820 2-20539-2 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-12-21
9. Träume (Wagner) P9820 2-20538 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-12-21
10. Trovatore (Verdi) Condotta el’era in ceppi P9804 2-20438 Parlophon, Berlin 1927-11-07
11. Fledermaus (Strauss) Herr Chevalier, ich grüße Sie (w. Tauber, Lehmann, Staegemann, Merrem-Nikisch & chorus) O-8734 xxB8266 Odeon, Berlin 1928-12-17
12. Fledermaus (Strauss) Genug damit, genug (w. Tauber, Lehmann, Staegemann, Merrem-Nikisch & chorus) O-8734 xxB8267 Odeon, Berlin 1928-12-17
13. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Ein Fürstenkind, ein Wunder ist geschehen (w. Tauber, Lehmann, Staegemann, Merrem-Nikisch, Lange & chorus) O-8735 xxB8268
14. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Er ist Baron (w. Tauber, Lehmann, Staegemann, Merrem-Nikisch & chorus) O-8735 xxB8269 Odeon, Berlin 1928-12-17
15. Ernsten Gesängen (Brahms) Prediger Salomo B8501 51337 Homokord, Berlin 1924-01
16. Odysseus (Bruch) B8501 51340 Homokord, Berlin 1924-01
17. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) Sieh’ mein Herz 66689 520bm Polydor, Berlin 1927-11
18. Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saëns) O liebe meinen Haß 66689 625bm Polydor, Berlin 1927-12
19. Sætergjentens søndag (Bull) 15079 12913 Brunswick, USA 1924-04-17
20. Synnøves sang (Kjerulf) 15079 12911 Brunswick, USA 1924-04-17