Josef Metternich (singer)
Josef Metternich (born June 2, 1915 in Hermülheim ; † February 21, 2005 in Feldafing ) was a German opera singer ( baritone ), music and singing teacher .
Life
In the 35 years of his career, Metternich appeared at all the famous opera houses in the world and at numerous festivals. His roles in Verdi operas such as Il trovatore or La forza del destino were particularly famous . He appeared together with Rudolf Schock in many concerts, recordings and radio broadcasts, especially in the 1950s .
After attending elementary school, in the building of today's Hürther municipal music school, he attended what was later called the Max-Ernst-Gymnasium Brühl , where he graduated from high school in 1934. Then he reported to the Reich Labor Service . His musical career began in 1935 with his first solo roles as a choir member at the Bonn City Theater . After surviving tuberculosis, he was engaged as a baritone at the German Opera House in Berlin in 1939 , where he initially appeared in smaller roles.
After the Second World War he was promoted by the new director of the opera house, Michael Bohnen , and Metternich now sang the major roles, soon also at the State Opera Unter den Linden . After four years at the New York Metropolitan Opera , he returned to Germany. Ferenc Fricsay and Georg Solti brought him to the Bavarian State Opera , where he stayed until 1971. In addition to his stage presence, he was also an internationally sought-after song and concert singer.
Metternich also worked for many years as a music teacher and singing teacher. Until his retirement he led the master class for singing at the Cologne University of Music . The artist was one of the most important German-speaking singing teachers of the late 20th century, well versed in both the German and Italian repertoire. His students include a .: Carol Malone, Dorothea Chryst , Mechthild Gessendorf, Gerd Grochowski , Thomas Gropper , Matthias Hölle , Valerie Hennecke, Michalis Katsoulis, Roswitha Sicca, Marion Seidel, Jonas Kaufmann , Stella Kleindienst , Wolfgang Koch , Eike Wilm Schulte , Wicus Slabbert , Michael Volle and Thomas Weldon .
Josef Metternich was married to the opera singer Liselotte Losch . His son Hans-Christian Metternich is President of the European Patent Court.
The municipal music school in Hürth is named after Metternich.
Role repertoire (selection)
- Rigoletto: Rigoletto
- Don Pizzaro: Fidelio
- Caesar: Julius Caesar
- Johannes Kepler: The harmony of the world
- Father: Hansel and Gretel
- Tonio: The Bajazzo
- Scarpia: Tosca
- Mandryka: Arabella
- Barak: The woman without a shadow
- Iokanaan: Salome
- Amonasro: Aida
- Ford: Falstaff
- Giorgio Germont: La traviata
- Count Luna: The Troubadour
- The Dutchman The Flying Dutchman
- Donner: The Rhine gold
- Kurwenal: Tristan and Isolde
Discography (selection)
- 1950: Arabella
- 1950: Rigoletto
- 1952: The power of fate
- 1952: The Flying Dutchman
- 1953: Fidelio
- 1953: Hansel and Gretel
- 1953: Tosca
- 1953: Lohengrin
- 1954: The woman without a shadow
- 1955: Julius Caesar
- 1956: Andrea Chénier
- 1959: The Bajazzo
Web links
- Works by and about Josef Metternich in the catalog of the German National Library
- Josef Metternich in the Bavarian Musicians' Lexicon Online (BMLO)
- Josef Metternich at filmportal.de
- Josef Metternich Private Website
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Metternich, Josef |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German opera singer (baritone), music and singing teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 2, 1915 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Hermulheim |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 21, 2005 |
| Place of death | Feldafing |