Sergei Lemeshev (1902 - 1977)
Wow! What an amazing voice!Aksel Schiøtz (Tenor)
1906 - 1975
Although he was not primarily noted as an opera singer Aksel (Hauch) Schiøtz must certainly be consider one of the foremost male singers of the twentieth century as well as one of the most intelligent. Schiøtz, was born September 1, 1906 in Roskilde near Copenhagen. At the urging of his father who was an architect he enrolled at the University of Copenhagen in modern languages studies, receiving M.A. in 1929, and became a teacher He studied singing, first at the Danish Royal Opera School in Copenhagen and later in Stockholm with John Forsell, who was the teacher of Jussi Björling.
Aksel Schiøtz gave his first song recital in 1936. His operatic debut followed in 1939 as Ferrando in Così fan tutte at the Royal Danish Theater in Copenhagen, and he soon gained wide recognition as a Mozartean and as a Lieder artist. In 1938 he was discovered by the recording company His Master's Voice. In 1940 Denmark was seized by Hitler and Aksel's International activities had to be postponed. During the years of the war and the Nazi Occupation he sang in the Scandinavian countries and actively participated in the Danish Resistance.
After the conclusion of the war he was able to resume his career and in 1946 he made appearances in England. He was invited to record Die schöne Müllerin and Dichterliebe with Gerald Moore. He also appeared opposite Kathleen Ferrier in the first performances of Britten's The Rape of Lucretia at Glyndebourne. Because of his successful recordings, he became one of the best-loved classical singers. His recorded output encompasses eleven CDs.
In 1946 Schiøtz survived an operation for a tumour of the acoustic nerve which left the right hand side of his face partly paralysed. He succeeded by sheer will-power to sing in a comeback recital in 1948. His career was again halted when in 1950 he developed a brain tumor which led to an impairment of his speech. However, he regained his capacities as a singer and gave concerts as a baritone
In 1955 Aksel Schiøtz entered a new career as a teacher for voice in Minnesota, Toronto, Colorado and Copenhagen. He was highly regarded as an excellent one. During this time he also gave master classes in the USA. Aksel Schiøtz died in Copenhagen on April 19, 1975
Rob
It's hard to imagine that there was ever a better Tamino than Wunderlich (even including the great Jonas K.).Some more videos:
Frits: