Birth

:

February 5, 1917 in Brun am Gebirge, Austria

Death

:

May 14, 2003 in Vienna, Austria

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Symphony

 

Otto Edelmann was a renowned Austrian bass-baritone who was born on February 5, 1917, in Vienna, Austria. He was the son of a civil servant and grew up in a musical family. His father played the violin, and his mother was a singer. Edelmann's parents recognized his musical talent at an early age and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Edelmann began his musical training at the Vienna Music Academy, where he studied under the guidance of Professor Theo Lierhammer. He made his debut in 1940 at the Vienna State Opera as the Herald in Wagner's Lohengrin. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and commanding stage presence. In 1942, Edelmann was drafted into the German army and served on the Eastern Front. He was captured by the Soviet army in 1945 and spent several years as a prisoner of war. During his captivity, he continued to sing and perform for his fellow prisoners, which helped to lift their spirits. After his release from captivity, Edelmann returned to Vienna and resumed his career as a singer. He quickly regained his status as one of the leading bass-baritones of his time. He made his debut at the Salzburg Festival in 1947 as Osmin in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. He also performed at the Bayreuth Festival, where he sang the role of Hagen in Wagner's Götterdämmerung. Edelmann's international career took off in the 1950s, and he became a regular performer at the world's leading opera houses. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1957 as Baron Ochs in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier. He also performed at the Royal Opera House in London, La Scala in Milan, and the Paris Opera. Edelmann was known for his powerful voice, which had a rich, dark tone. He was particularly renowned for his performances of Wagner's operas, where he excelled in the roles of Hagen, Wotan, and the Dutchman. He was also a master of the comic opera, and his performances of Mozart's operas were highly acclaimed. Edelmann was a versatile performer who was equally at home on the concert stage as he was in the opera house. He was a regular performer at the Salzburg Festival, where he sang in many of the great choral works, including Bach's St. Matthew Passion and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Edelmann was the recipient of many awards and honors throughout his career. In 1969, he was awarded the title of Kammersänger by the Austrian government, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a singer in Austria. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Austria in 1977. Edelmann retired from the stage in 1982, but he continued to teach and mentor young singers. He was a professor of voice at the Vienna Music Academy and was highly respected for his teaching skills. Many of his students went on to have successful careers in opera and concert singing. Otto Edelmann died on May 14, 2003, in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 86. He was remembered as one of the greatest bass-baritones of his time, and his recordings continue to be highly regarded by music lovers around the world.

More....