Description

CARL MARTIN ÖHMAN (OEHMAN) (FLODA, SWEDEN, SEPTEMBER 4, 1887 – STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, DECEMBER 9, 1967)

 

 

 

 

He was the son of a Lutheran priest. In 1907, after completing his education at the military academy, he became a lieutenant. That same year, he began studying piano, organ, and music theory at the Royal Conservatoire in Stockholm. He then received vocal training under pedagogue Carl Gentzel in Stockholm, later perfecting his technique with the legendary tenor Giuseppe (Jose) Oxilia and Enrico Quadri in Milan. In 1914, he made his debut as a concert singer. In 1917, he debuted as an opera singer at the Stora Teatern in Gothenburg in Fra Diavolo by D. Auber. He remained engaged in Gothenburg until 1923, but starting in 1919, he also began performing at the Royal Opera in Stockholm.

In 1921, he appeared as a soloist with a Swedish student choir in Berlin, attracting the attention of the famous conductor Bruno Walter, who assigned him a solo part in the oratorio Samson. In 1924, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Laca in Jenůfa (opposite Maria Jeritza in the title role) by L. Janáček. In 1926, 1929, and 1934, he performed at the Zoppot Festival in Richard Wagner’s operas. He also appeared at the Vienna State Opera in 1927 and 1929. From 1925 to 1937, he was a member of the Städtische Oper in Berlin, where he had a successful career, singing in the 1930 premiere of G. Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra and in Don Carlos in 1931.

In 1928, he made guest appearances at Covent Garden in London as Tannhäuser and as Walther von Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. In the late 1930s, he performed in Stockholm and Gothenburg as Prince Sou-Chong in F. Lehár’s operetta Das Land des Lächelns. Between 1927 and 1941, he frequently guested in Stockholm. As a concert singer, he made successful appearances in Paris in 1927 and 1929 and in Amsterdam in 1935. Though he officially retired in 1937, he continued to appear in concert, performing Das Lied von der Erde by Gustav Mahler in Amsterdam in 1940.

Later, he taught singing in Stockholm, where he counted Nicolai Gedda and Martti Talvela among his students. In 1927, he received the Swedish order Litteris et Artibus, and in 1933, he was appointed a Swedish court singer. From 1928 to 1943, he was married to the soprano Isobel Ghasal-Öhman (1896–1989), who enjoyed a successful operatic and concert career.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1917-1923 Gothenburg Stora Teatern

1919-1941 Stockholm Royal Opera

1924 New York Metropolitan Opera

1925-1937 Berlin Urban Opera

1927 Vienna State Opera

1928 London Covent Garden

1929 Vienna State Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Gondolsång (Torna a Sorriento) (de Curtis) B12966 67911 Parlophon, Berlin 1930-10-27

Jeg elsker dig (Grieg) S42100 2345ar Polyphon, Göteborg 1923-03

Julsång (Cantique de Noël) (Adam) V201 BE1856-2 HMV, Stockholm 1929-08-29

Jungfrun under lind (Peterson-Berger) S42103 2343ar Polyphon, Göteborg 1923-03

Köp blommor (Engelhardt) S42178 2568ar Polyphon, København 1923-07

Land des Lächelns (Lehár) Av äppelblom jag binder en krans BS1 WS544-2 Columbia, Stockholm 1932-05-30

Land des Lächelns (Lehár) Du är min hela värld BS1 WS543-1 Columbia, Stockholm 1932-05-30

Längtan (Söderman) B12657 67401 Parlophon, Berlin 1928-06-21

Lillebarn (Wennerberg-Reuter) B12658 67400 Parlophon, Berlin 1928-06-21

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land P9805-I 2-20524 ParlophonOdeon, Berlin 1927-12-20

Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan P9805-II 2-20525 Parlophon/Odeon, Berlin 1927-12-20

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd P9030 2-8955 Parlophon, Berlin 1926-11-09

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Geliebter, spare den Zorn (w. Bohnen, Lüders & Öhman) Odeon O-8708 Parlophon/Odeon, Berlin 1926-10-07

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Jerum! Jerum! (w. Bettendorf, Bohnen & Schützendorf) P9014 2-8904 Parlophon/Odeon, Berlin 1926-10-07

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend O-8702 xxB7582 Parlophon/Odeon, Berlin 1926-11-09