Hans Hotter

Hans Hotter (1909 - 2003) was a Baritone-low German, singer of operas and Lied er.

Biography

Born the January 19th 1909 with Offenbach amndt Hand, it follows studies to Munich near Matthäus Roemer. He works like organist and Master of choral society before making his beginnings in the opera with Troppau (current Opava) in 1930.

Throughout the Third Reich (1933 - 1945), it occurs on various scenes in Germany and Austria (of which an engagement with the Staatsoper of Munich). He becomes also the preferred baritone of Richard Strauss who entrusts to him the creation of several roles in his operas. Its audience with the international level widens only at the conclusion of the Second world war. Its first concert out of the Germanic countries takes place with Covent Garden (London) in 1947. It occurs then in Europe on the most famous scenes of the lyric art. In 1950, it is the Metropolitan Opera New York which accommodates it in the anglophone version of the Ghost ship . Follow, until in 1954, four seasons with residence in this prestigious establishment, where he plays 35 recoveries, in 13 roles, for the majority exits of the Wagnerian repertory .

In parallel, it takes part in the Festival of Bayreuth of 1952 with 1966, directed then by Wieland Wagner. Its interpretations of Hans Sachs in the Masters Singers of Nuremberg , Gurnemanz in Parsifal or of Wotan in the Ring of Nibelung durably marked the lyric scene and the Wagnerian discography. In addition to the power and the depth of its voice, its presence on scene was seizing because of its high stature. Its voice, of a particularly dark color, was appropriate for the heroic roles of the great repertory and thus particularly to the great Wagnerian roles, where it was, and remains, almost unsurpassable.

It was also one of the most admirable singer of Lieder, able to reduce its immense voice and to rest on a infinite Legato.

In addition, it put itself in scene the “Tétralogie” at Covent Garden, of 1961 with 1964.

Large interpreter of Lieder, it sang 127 times the cycle of the Voyage from winter ( Winterreise ) of Franz Schubert and recorded it four times at the disc:

recording of November 1942, published at DG in 1943, with Michael Raucheisen with the piano, republished out of CD initially by DG then by Music & Arts;
recording of the 24 & September 25th, 1943 in the House of Radio, Berlin, with Mr. Raucheisen with the piano, CD published at Preiser Records;
celebrates recording of 1955 at EMI with Gerald Moore with the piano;
recording 15 December 18th with Brahms-Saal, Musikverein in Vienna, at DG, with Erik Werba with the piano.

Hans Hotter bids her farewell with the scene in 1972, but will make some later reappearances there: reciting in the Gurrelieder of Schönberg, Schligloch in Excentric of Berg… After being itself withdrawn of the scene, it is devoted to the teaching of the song with Vienna and Paris.

Hans Hotter is deceased the December 6th 2003.

Discography

Bach: Cantata BWV 82 Ich habe genug - often coupled with Four serious Songs of Johannes Brahms
Schubert: The Voyage from winter
Wagner:

several integrals of Parsifal, in particular in 1962, under the direction of Hans Knappertsbusch with the chorus and the orchestra of the Festival of Bayreuth. Another version available in 1964.
the Tetralogy. Several recordings resulting from the Festival of Bayreuth where Hans Hotter sings Wotan in company of other opera singers become kégendaires: Wolfgang Windgassen, Josef Greindl, Astrid Varnay…

Brahms: A German Requiem. The Philharmonic orchestra and Chorus of the Opera of Vienna in 1947, under the direction of Karajan and at the sides of E. Schwarzkopf…
Schumann: Love of the poet (Dichterliebe)

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