Hermann Gallos (Tenor) (Vienna, Austria 21 January 1886 – Vienna, Austria 20 February 1957)

 

First he studied law at the University of Vienna, but also took singing lessons at the Vienna Conservatory with Philipp Forstén. He joined the Vienna Academic Choral Society; His voice was discovered on a tour of this choir in North America. In 1915 he made his debut at the Vienna Court Opera; throughout his long career he stayed at this opera house, which later became the State Opera. He was the first tenor buffo at the Vienna Opera and was incredibly popular with opera audiences in the Austrian metropolis. On October 4th, 1916, at the Vienna Court Opera, he took part in the world premiere of the new adaptation of the opera 'Ariadne auf Naxos' by R. Strauss. As early as 1922 he sang the role of Pedrillo in 'Entführung aus dem Serail' at the Salzburg Festival, and since then he has participated in these festivals almost year after year until 1950; here he appeared as Valzacchi in 'Rosenkavalier' (1929-1935, 1937-1939, 1941 and 1946), Pedrillo (1922, 1926, 1932), Jacquino in 'Fidelio' (1927-1929 and 1932-1933), Don Curzio in 'Figaros Hochzeit' (1925, 1927, 1930-1935, 1941), Augustin Moser in 'Meistersingern' (1936-1938) and, as the last part in 1950, the first prisoner in 'Fidelio'. In addition, he repeatedly appeared in the Salzburg Mozart and church concerts. In 1928 he sang in a guest performance by the Vienna Opera at the Grand Opéra in Paris. He was also a highly valued concert and oratorio singer, especially in the context of the Salzburg Festival. Almost until his death he appeared on the stage of the Vienna State Opera and in the concert hall; Since 1937 he has been a professor at the Vienna Music Academy.