Carl Martin Öhman (Oehman) (Tenor) (Floda, Sweden September 4, 1887 - Stockholm, Sweden December 9, 1967)

                                                                        Stolzing

He was the son of a Lutheran priest. In 1907, after his education at the military academy, he became lieutenant. The same year he studied piano, organ as well as music theory at the Royal conservatoire in Stockholm. Then he received his education as singer under the pedagogue Carl Gentzel in Stockholm. Later he perfected his vocal under the legendary tenor Giuseppe (Jose) Oxilia and Enrico Quadri in Milan. In 1914 he made his debut as concert singer. In 1917 he made his debut as an opera singer at the Stora Teatern in Gothenburg in ‘’Fra Diavolo’’ by  D. Auber. He remained engaged in Gothenburg till 1923, but since 1919  he started to appear also at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. In 1921 he guested as soloist of a Swedish student choir in Berlin and excited the attention of famous conductor Bruno Walter, who transferred a solo part in the oratorio ‘’Samson’’ for him. In 1924 he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Laca in ‘’Jenufa’’ (opposite Maria Jeritza in the title role) by l. Janacek. In 1926, 1929 and 1934 he appeared at the festival of Zoppot in Richard Wagner’s operas. In 1927 and 1929 he was to be heard at the Vienna State Opera. In the 1925-1937 seasons he was a member of the Urban Opera in  Berlin, where he had successful career. He sang there in 1930 in the première of G. Verdi’s ‘’Simon Boccanegra’’, in 1931 in ‘’Don of Carlos’’. In 1928 he made guest appearances at Covent Garden in London as Tannhäuser and Walther von Stolzing in ‘’Meistersingern’’. At the end of the 1930’s he appeared in Stockholm and Gothenburg as prince Sou-Chong in F. Lehár’s operetta ‘’Das Land des Lächelns’’. In the 1927-1941 seasons he guested over and over again in Stockholm. As a concert singer in 1927 and 1929 he made successful appearances in Paris and in 1935 in Amsterdam. In 1937 he officially finished his career, however, again appeared at the concert hall, in 1940 in Amsterdam in ‘’Lied von der Erde’’ by Gustav Mahler. Later he taught singing in Stockholm, where among other things he was the teacher of Nicolai Gedda and Martti Talvela. In 1927 he received the Swedish order ‘’Litteris et artibus’’ and in 1933 appointed the Swedish court singer. From 1928 to 1943 he married the soprano Isobel Ghasal-Öhman (1896-1989), who had a successful opera concert career.

Chronology of some appearances

1917-1923 Gothenburg Stora Teatern
1919-1941 Stockholm Royal Opera
1924 New York Metropolitan Opera
1925-1937 Berlin Urban Opera
1927 Vienna State Opera
1928 London Covent Garden
1929 Vienna State Opera

RECORDINGS FOR SALE 

Parlophon, Berlin 1926-02-12

 Tosca (Puccini): Hah! Geleit für Floria Tosca with Seinemeyer P2219-I 2-8583

 Tosca (Puccini): Wisse, nah' ist die Stunde with Seinemeyer P2219-II 2-8584

Odeon, Berlin 1926-10-07

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Geliebter, spare den Zorn with Bettendorf, Lüders & Bohnen O-8708a /xxB7518

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Jerum! Jerum! with Bettendorf, Bohnen & Schützendorf O-8708b xxB7519

Odeon, Berlin 1926-11-09

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend O-8702a xxB7582

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Am stillen Herd O-8702b xxB7583

Parlophon/Odeon, Berlin 1927-12-20
Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land P9805-I 2-20524
Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan P9805-II 2-20525