Description

SET KARL VIKTOR SVANHOLM (VÄSTERÅS, VÄSTMANLAND COUNTY, SWEDEN, 2 SEPTEMBER, 1904 – SALTSJÖ‐DUVNÄS, NEAR STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 4 OCTOBER, 1964)

Svanholm began his musical career at the age of 17 as a precentor, elementary school teacher, and organist. From 1927 to 1929, he studied at the Royal Conservatory of Stockholm, passing his exams as a music teacher. From 1930 to 1931, he further trained his voice with John Forsell in Stockholm. Starting in 1929, he was the cantor at St. James’ Church in Stockholm. In 1930, he made his debut as a baritone at the Royal Opera of Stockholm, performing the role of Silvio in Bajazzo. He performed at the Stockholm Opera several times until 1963. After singing as a baritone for six years, he switched to tenor and became a celebrated Wagnerian singer. His first tenor role was Radamès in Verdi’s Aida in Stockholm in 1937. From 1938 to 1943, he was a member of the Berlin State Opera. At the 1938 Salzburg Festival, he was celebrated for his portrayal of Walther von Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and as Tannhäuser. On March 16, 1940, he appeared as Erland in the Stockholm premiere of Gunnar de Frunerie’s opera Singoalla. In 1940, he received an offer from the New York Metropolitan Opera but could not accept it due to the war. In 1942, he made a guest appearance at La Scala in Milan and, in the summer of 1942, sang Erik in The Flying Dutchman and Siegfried in Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival. In 1945, he took on the title role in the premiere of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in Stockholm. In 1946, he became a member of the Metropolitan Opera and made a brilliant debut there as the title character in Siegfried by Richard Wagner. At the Metropolitan Opera, he sang 17 roles in 105 performances over ten seasons from 1946 to 1956, including Herod in Salome and Aegisthus in Elektra by Richard Strauss, Florestan in Fidelio, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. From 1946 onwards, he also appeared as a guest at operas in Chicago and San Francisco, where he had great success in 1951. In 1946, he performed in Rio de Janeiro as Tristan and Siegmund in Die Walküre. His guest performances included appearances at Covent Garden in London (1948–1957), La Scala in Milan (1942 as Tannhäuser, 1950 as Siegfried), in Hamburg, Berlin (1938–1940), Budapest, Los Angeles, and particularly at the Vienna State Opera (1938–1942), marking his very long career. He worked at the Metropolitan Opera until 1956, and in 1963, he made a guest appearance in Düsseldorf as Tristan. In 1946, he was named Swedish Court Singer and received the “Litteris et Artibus” order in 1957. From 1956 to 1963, he served as the director of the Royal Opera in Stockholm. He was married to the soprano Nini Högstedt. His powerful, metallically radiant, and expressive tenor voice found its true calling, especially in Wagner roles, but he was also successful in the Verdi repertoire (e.g., Othello), as Florestan in Fidelio, Herod in Salome, Peter Grimes in Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten, and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus.

TRACKLIST

1. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd DB6537 D7-RC-7181 RCA-Victor, 1947-02-04
2. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend DB6537 D7-RC-7182-1 RCA-Victor, 1947-02-04
3. Set Svanholm
4. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Da naht’ auch ich DB6787 D7-RC-7989 RCA-Victor, 1947-11-12
5. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Inbrunst im Herzen DB6787 D7-RC-7988 RCA-Victor, 1947-11-12
6. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Doch uns’re Liebe (w. Flagstad) DB21113 2EA13928-1 HMV, London 1949-06-05
7. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Lausch’, Geliebter! (w. Flagstad) DB21113 2EA13927-1 HMV, London 1949-06-05
8. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Nie wieder Wachen wahnlos (w. Flagstad & Shacklock) DB21112 2EA13924-1 HMV, London 1949-06-05
9. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) O sink hernieder (w. Flagstad) DB21112 2EA13923-2 HMV, London 1949-06-05
10. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) Sell der Tag noch Tristan wecken (w. Flagstad) DB21114 2EA13926-1 HMV, London 1949-06-05
11. Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) So sturben wir (w. Flagstad) DB21114 2EA13925-2 HMV, London 1949-06-05
12. Walküre (Wagner) Der dir nun folgt (w. Flagstad) DB6962 2EA13920-1 HMV, London 1949-06-04
13. Walküre (Wagner) Siegmund! Sieh’ auf mich! (w. Flagstad) DB6962 2EA13919-1 HMV, London 1949-06-04
14. Walküre (Wagner) So grüsse mir Walhall (w. Flagstad) DB6963 2EA13921-2 HMV, London 1949-06-04
15. Walküre (Wagner) So wenig achtest du ewige Wonne (w. Flagstad) DB6963 2EA13922-2 HMV, London 1949-06-04