HERMANN WINKELMANN (BRAUNSCHWEIG, 8 MARCH, 1848 – MAUER,
VIENNA, 18 JANUARY, 1912)
Hermann Winkelmann was born in
Braunschweig in 1849. His father, Theodore Christian Ludewig Winkelmann, was
the founder of Zeitter & Winkelmann, piano manufacturers, and he himself
planned to continue his father’s trade. He went to Paris to study piano construction,
but while there he decided to become a singer. He had his initial training in
Paris, and later with Koch in Hanover. Winkelmann made his debut as Manrico in
Verdi’s Il trovatore in the Court Theatre of Sondershausen in 1875. He then
sang in such places as Altenburg, Darmstadt, and Leipzig. He joined the Hamburg
State Opera in 1878. The first role he created was that of Anton Rubinstein’s
Néron, in a German translation at the Theater an Dammtor in Hamburg on 1
October 1879 (it did not have its Russian premiere until 1884). Winkelmann
became a Heldentenor specialising in the music dramas of Richard Wagner, and
was known for the title roles of Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, and as Walther von
Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Most notably, Wagner himself chose
Winkelmann to create the title role of Parsifal at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus
in 1882, and he sang it there until 1891, usually alongside Amalie Materna, the
creator of the role of Kundry. He was seen at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane,
during the Hamburg Opera’s London visit in 1882, under Hans Richter. He created
Tristan in London; in fact, he and Richter required so many rehearsals of
Tristan und Isolde that this caused the postponement of the premiere of Hubert
Parry’s latest symphony. He was also the first Walther to be heard in London.
He also sang Lohengrin and Tannhäuser there, and participated in a then-rare
performance of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, also under Richter. In 1883
Winkelmann became a member of the Vienna Court Opera, where he was celebrated
mainly for his Wagner performances. He was the first Tristan in Vienna (1883),
and also the first Otello in that city, where he remained until 1906. In 1884
he appeared in the United States at Wagner festivals in New York, Chicago, Boston
and Cincinnati, some under the baton of Theodore Thomas. He later sang in
concert, oratorio and lieder. He retired from the stage in 1907, and died at
Mauer, Vienna, in 1912, aged 62. His son Hans Winkelmann was also an opera
singer.
TRACKLIST
Hermann
Winkelmann made 16 records
Dalibor (Smetana) Blickst du
mein Freund G&T 3-42299, 6770b
Liebesglück (Sucher) Favorite
1-25079
Lohengrin (Wagner) Höchstes
Vertrauen G&T 042110 479c
Lohengrin (Wagner) Nun sei
bedankt (Schwanenlied) Berliner 42057 1596A
Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend (Preislied) Berliner 42015 1530A
Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(Wagner) Traumlied Favorite 1-25078 2308-f
Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(Wagner) Weilten die Sterne im lieblichen Tanz G&T 3-42465 6769b
Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(Wagner) Fanget an! (Werbelied) 42014 1529A Berliner, Wien 1900-05
Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pastorale
Favorite 1-25080 2321-f
Prophète (Meyerbeer) Pastorale
G&T 2-42332 6845a
Prophète (Meyerbeer)
Triumphlied Favorite 1-25081 2322-f
Tannhäuser (Wagner) Lied an
die Venus G&T 3-42370 6771b
Tannhäuser (Wagner) Loblied an
die Venus Favorite 1-25077 2307-f
Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’
ich (Ständchen) 42016 1528A Berliner, Wien 1900-05
Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’ ich (Ständchen) G&T 3-42417 6772b
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