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Joseph Schwartz sings Arias by
Verdi, Wagner, Leoncavallo and Meyerbeer
Recorded
1916-18
Download ID: 265037
(Duration 70'45")
Restoration by HTS Studio for Hänssler Classic
COMES WITH ENGLISH NOTES & COVERS
Hat dein heimatliches Land
(Di provenza il mare il suol)
Verdi - La Traviata
In his book Die großen Sanger, Jürgen Keßting
speaks of the »best German baritone
voice of the century«. Strangely, Joseph
Schwarz (1880-1926) is today not nearly so
well known as Heinrich Schlusnus, who was
eight years his junior, nor is Schwarz's name
very often mentioned even in collectors' circles.
His early death (from alcohol abuse,
according to some sources) is in my estimation
not a plausible explanation; it might make more
sense to say that he came into the world too
early. Had he been born twenty or thirty years
later, he would probably be as well known
today as Maria Cebotari, Kathleen Ferrier and
Fritz Wunderlich, whose lives were cut short
even more abruptly. Joseph Schwarz belonged
to the »Iost generation« of German singers
who made their best recordings during the
First World War - too young to count among
the pioneers of the gramophone record, too
old to take full advantage of »electrical«
recording, sound film and radio.
Hearing Schwarz is tantamount to seeing
him perform. One seems to see the characters
come to life when listening to his recordings of
the monologues of Rigoletto and lago (tracks 6
and 10). It is no wonder that his portrayal of
Rigoletto was described as »Chaliapinesque«
in London; Chaliapin then epitomized expressiveness
and stage presence. Just how well Schwarz could combine drama with classical
legato singing is especially apparent in his
recording of the aria of Nelusco (14), an
absolute highlight in the Meyerbeer discography.
And anyone who has heard his renderings
of Wolfram singing to the evening star (17) and
of Dapertutto's aria (18) will probably be spoilt
for most later versions.
He actually recorded forty numbers on
the Gramophone label between 1916 and
1919, by which time he had enjoyed great success
at the Vienna Hofoper, where he even
partnered Enrico Caruso. Nonetheless, his
name was not yet big enough in the rest of the
world to make him a potential recording star.
Then, when he had earned an international
name for himself in performances in Chicago,
New York, London and Paris, he had no recording
contract...
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