Johann Michael Wächter

Johann Michael Wächter, lithograph by Josef Kriehuber , 1834

Johann Michael Wächter (born March 2, 1794 in Rappersdorf , Upper Austria , † May 26, 1853 in Dresden ) was an Austrian opera singer ( bass baritone ) and Saxon chamber singer .

Life

In 1816 Wächter went to Vienna to study law. Here his beautiful bass voice caught the eye and he decided to give up his studies and get trained in singing. In 1819 he made his debut in the title role of Mozart's Don Giovanni in Graz . Engagements in Pest (1821), Vienna Court Opera (1824) and Berlin followed . In 1827 he became a member of the Dresden Court Opera , where he stayed until the end of his career. In 1852, after 25 years of service, he was appointed royal Saxon chamber singer .

He sang in three world premieres of Wagner's operas: Orsini in Rienzi (1842), the title role in Flying Dutchman (1843) and Biterolf in Tannhäuser (1845). Hector Berlioz , who heard him in the Flying Dutchman in Dresden, praised his voice as one of the most beautiful baritone voices he had ever heard.

Richard Wagner, on the other hand, later criticized his corpulence and movements at the premiere of the Flying Dutchman.

His wife, the mezzo-soprano Therese Wächter-Wittmann , also sang in Dresden and took on the role of Mary in the world premiere of The Flying Dutchman .

literature

Constantin von Wurzbach : Guardian, Johann Michael . In: Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich . 52nd part. Imperial-Royal Court and State Printing House, Vienna 1885, p. 60 f. ( Digitized version ).

Web links

Commons : Johann Michael Wächter - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

^ Oxford Music Online
↑ Hector Berlioz, 'Mémoires de Hector Berlioz comprenant ses voyages en Italie, en Allemagne, en Russie et en Angleterre, 1803-1865', Michel Levy Freres, Éditeurs, Paris (1870)
^ 'Wagner and the Art of the Theater: The Operas in Stage Performance' By Patrick Carnegy Published by Yale University Press {2006} pg 29 ISBN 0300106955

personal data
SURNAME	Guardian, Johann Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Austrian opera singer (bass baritone) and Saxon chamber singer
DATE OF BIRTH	March 2, 1794
PLACE OF BIRTH	Rappersdorf , Upper Austria
DATE OF DEATH	May 26, 1853
Place of death	Dresden

[1] Oxford Music Online

[2] Hector Berlioz, 'Mémoires de Hector Berlioz comprenant ses voyages en Italie, en Allemagne, en Russie et en Angleterre, 1803-1865', Michel Levy Freres, Éditeurs, Paris (1870)

[3] 'Wagner and the Art of the Theater: The Operas in Stage Performance' By Patrick Carnegy Published by Yale University Press {2006} pg 29 ISBN 0300106955