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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...

Excerpted from enclosed sleevenotes, Thomas Voigt © 2004

Track Listing:

1. Schaut her! Ich Bin's (Si può) - Leoncavallo - I Pagliacci
2. Zaza, piccolo zingara - Leoncavallo - Zaza
3. Gleich sind wir beide (Pari siamo) - Verdi - Rigoletto
4. Schon seit drei Monden (Gia da tre lune) - Verdi - Rigoletto
5. Ach, Gott, für mich erfleht ich (Solo per me l'infamia) - Verdi - Rigoletto
6. Feile Sklaven (Cortigiani, vil razza) - Verdi - Rigoletto
7. Ihres Auges himmlisch' Strahlen - Verdi - Il Trovatore
8. Befreit, oh welche Seligkeit (Vivra! Contende giubilo) - Verdi - Il Trovatore
9. Hat dein heimatliches Land (Di provenza il mare il suol) - Verdi - La Traviata
10. Ich glaube au einem Gott (Credo in un dio crudel) - Verdi - Otello
11. Für dein Glück unt für dein Leben (Alla vita che t'arride) - Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera
12. Ja, nur du (Eri tu) - Verdi - Un Ballo in Maschera
13. Solenne in quest'ora - Verdi - La Forza del Destino
14. Dir, oh Königin (Fille des Rois) - Meyerbeer - L'Africaine
15. Wie hat mein Herz geschlagen (Avoir tant adorée) - Meyerbeer - L'Africaine
16. Blick ich umher - Wagner - Tannhäuser
17. O du mein holder Abendstern - Wagner - Tannhäuser
18. Leuchte, heller Spiegel mir (Scintille diamant) - Offenbach - Les Contes d'Hoffmann

Please note: This is not a Pristine Audio historic restoration.

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