Walter Soomer
Walter Soomer , actually Ernst Albrecht Walter Scholz , (born March 12, 1878 in Liegnitz , Silesia ; † August 6, 1955 in Leipzig ) was a German opera singer ( bass baritone ) and singing teacher .
Life
Soomer began to study philosophy at the Humboldt University in Berlin . After a short time he broke off this course without a degree and completed a vocal training. At the age of 24 he came to the Colmar City Theater and made a successful debut there. In the same year he was committed to the Stadttheater Halle for four years .
Between 1906 and 1927 Soomer sang at the Leipzig Opera House ; interrupted only by regular appearances at the Saxon Opera House in Dresden and at the Metropolitan Opera in New York . From 1906 Soomer took part regularly at the Bayreuth Festival .
Soomer also occasionally gave guest appearances at other major European opera houses, and almost all of them are documented by recordings. After the First World War Soomer devoted himself almost exclusively to the work of Richard Wagner and switched to the bass . When Soomer retired from the stage, he settled in Leipzig and founded a private singing school there.
After the Second World War Soomer also worked as a director, but could no longer build on his earlier successes (including as a singer).
Walter Soomer was temporarily married to the soprano Aline Sanden .
Roles (selection)
- Titurel - Parsifal ( Richard Wagner )
- Brand - Tristan and Isolde (Richard Wagner)
- Heinrich - Lohengrin (Richard Wagner)
- Daland - The Flying Dutchman (Richard Wagner)
- Wotan - The Ring of the Nibelung (Richard Wagner)
- Hans Sachs - The Mastersingers of Nuremberg (Richard Wagner)
- Marc - Revolution wedding ( Eugen d'Albert )
- Herbot - The Bull by Olivera (Eugen d'Albert)
- Wilhelm Tell - Wilhelm Tell ( Gioacchino Rossini )
media
- 100 years of Bayreuth on record. The early festival 1896–1906 . Gebhardt Music Distribution 2004 (12 CDs).
The catalog of the music archive at the DNB lists 20 recordings by Soomer, including:
- Concert Record “Gramophon” GC 2-44231 (mx. 3127 r): “Ha! Where to? ”- Duet from Tell (Rossini). Sung by Jacques Urlus , opera singer (tenor), and Walter Soomer, opera singer (baritone), with orchestral accompaniment, Kapellm. Seidler-Winkler, Leipzig.
- Monarch Record “Gramophon” 042147 (mx. 209 s) “Song to the Evening Star” from Tannhäuser (Wagner). Sung by Walter Soomer, opera singer with orchestral accompaniment, Kapellmeister Seidler-Winkler, Leipzig.
- Record “Grammophon” 65 155/042413 (mx. 1134 s): “Gesang Wolframs und Pilgerchor” from Tannhäuser (Wagner). 1. Part "I knew well to find you here in prayer". Walter Soomer, Herzoglich-Coburgischer Kammersänger, with the choir of the Royal Court Opera Dresden - recorded in 1913.
- Record “Grammophon” 65 155/042414 (mx. 1133 s): “Gesang Wolframs und Pilgerchor” from Tannhäuser (Wagner). 2nd part "You may now be happy, oh home I watch". Walter Soomer, Herzoglich-Coburgischer Kammersänger, with the choir of the Royal Court Opera Dresden - recorded in 1913.
- Record “Grammophon” 65 156/042415 (mx. 1130 s): “Wotan's Zorn (I don't punish you first)” from Walküre , III. Act (Wagner). W. Soomer, Kammersänger, Leipzig, baritone with orchestra - recorded in Berlin, August 20, 1913.
- Record “Grammophon” 65 156/042416 (mx. 1132 s): “Fire magic (Loge, hear!)” From Walküre, III. Act (Wagner). W. Soomer, Kammersänger, Leipzig, baritone with orchestral accompaniment - recorded in Berlin, August 20, 1913.
- Polyphon Record No. 2284 (mx. 21 026): “Well I knew in prayer” from the opera Tannhäuser (Wagner). Walter Soomer, Kammersänger, Leipzig - recorded in 1913.
- Polyphon Record No. 2284 (mx. 21 027): "Feile Sklaven" from the opera Rigoletto (Verdi). Walter Soomer, chamber singer, Leipzig.
- Polyphon Record No. 12 376 (mx. 21 189) [7397]: "The clock" (Loewe). Walter Soomer, Kgl. Saxon Chamber Singer, Dresden.
literature
- Kutsch / Riemens: Large song dictionary . Unchanged edition., KG Saur, Bern, 1993, second volume M – Z, p. 2793, ISBN 3-907820-70-3 (3 volumes)
- Walter Soomer. In: Rudolf Vierhaus (Ed.): German Biographical Encyclopedia . 2nd revised and expanded edition. Volume 9, K. G. Saur Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-598-25039-2 , p. 516 ( online at Google Books )
Web links
- Klaus Ulrich Spiegel: Heavyweight with luminosity - The extraordinary Wagner singer Walter Soomer on ku-spiegel.de
Individual evidence
- ^ Walter Soomer at Operissimo on the basis of the Great Singer Lexicon
- ^ Catalog of the music archive at the DNB .
- ↑ listen on YouTube
- ↑ listen on YouTube
- ↑ to be heard in the media library of the SLUB Dresden .
- ↑ listen on YouTube
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Soomer, Walter |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Scholz, Ernst Albrecht Walter (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German opera singer (bass baritone) and vocal teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 12, 1878 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Liegnitz , Silesia |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 6, 1955 |
| Place of death | Leipzig |