Erich Kunz
Thoroughly Viennese, bass-baritone Erich Kunz excelled in serious roles (although he sang rather few), comic parts and in operetta characterizations. An indispensable participant in recording producer Walter Legge's Champagne Operetta series in the early 1950s, Kunz, together with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, defined Viennese operetta style -- its lightness, grace, and charm. With a rich, masculine voice, he was a definitive Figaro, Leporello, and Papageno in the tradition of Mozart performance that sprang from the Vienna Opera immediately after WWII. An incomparable Beckmesser, his interpretation was preserved on two live recordings, and he left a number of delightful recordings of Viennese café and university songs.
Kunz studied in his native Vienna, primarily with Theodore Lierhammer at the Vienna Academy. His debut took place at Tropau in 1933 as Osmin (a part for deep bass) in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Following that, he sang with a number of smaller German theaters before being engaged by the Breslau Opera for three years. Kunz made his first acquaintance with England when he was offered an opportunity to understudy at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1936. He was soon thereafter assigned several smaller roles.
In 1941, Kunz became a part of the company at the Vienna Staatsoper where he remained throughout his career; he was given the title of Kammersänger in 1948. During the war years, he sang throughout Austria and Germany, primarily in Mozart and Wagner. He made his debut at the Salzburg Festival in 1942 as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and in 1943 became the youngest artist ever to have appeared in a major role at the Bayreuth Festival when he sang Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger.
Once the hostilities ended, Kunz's career assumed a still more international flavor. Opera performances took him to Florence, Rome, Naples, Paris, Brussels, Budapest, and Buenos Aires. His role at the Salzburg Festival grew and he was a part of the Vienna Staatsoper troupe touring England and France in 1947. The following year brought his debut at the Edinburgh Festival.
A Metropolitan Opera debut waited until 1952, but Kunz's appearance as Leporello on November 26 brought a warm response from the audience and positive reviews from the critics. Both local and national writers commented upon his handsome voice and subtle comic skills. Many could recall only a few comparable artists in a role frequently immersed in slapstick routine. The Metropolitan Opera enjoyed his presence for just two years. In addition to Leporello, Kunz appeared as Mozart's Figaro, Beckmesser, and Faninal in Rosenkavalier. Chicago heard his treasurable Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos and Leporello, both in 1964 and, two seasons later, his wily, yet innocent Papageno in Die Zauberflöte.
While musical tastes had moved from the elegant Mozart style of post-war Vienna to an earthier, more robust Italianate approach by the 1960s, Kunz's inimitable stage persona lost nothing of its potency. Nor did his voice; he continued to sing well even in his sixties and continued to undertake small roles (unforgettable cameos, all) to the end of a long career. In addition to opera house appearances, Kunz graced the stage of the Vienna Volksoper from time to time, giving lessons to both audiences and fellow artists in operetta style and singing.
Among the recordings of lasting value Kunz made during his prime years are, besides Meistersinger (two live from Bayreuth), Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte and each and every one of his operetta discs on Angel Records/EMI.
© TiVo
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Diskografie
19 Album, -en • Geordnet nach Bestseller
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Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro (Live in the Royal Festival Hall, 1954)
Karl Böhm, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Erich Kunz, Irmgard Seefried
Klassik - Erschienen bei Ica Classics am 06.04.2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro (1950)
Erich Kunz, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, George London
Klassik - Erschienen bei Classical Moments am 29.10.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Oper - Erschienen bei Preiser Records am 01.10.1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wiener Lieder
Deutsche Musik - Erschienen bei Preiser Records am 22.08.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 (Mono Version)
Erich Kunz, Irmgard Seefried, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Verschiedenes - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1953
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dokumente einer Sängerkarriere - Erich Kunz
Klassik - Erschienen bei Preiser Records am 26.08.2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss II: The Gypsy Baron
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Erich Kunz, Will Ferenz, Nicolai Gedda, The Philharmonia Orchestra, The Philharmonia Chorus
Oper - Erschienen bei Past Classics am 28.04.2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kunz-Matinee
Klassik - Erschienen bei Preiser Records am 06.10.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolfgang amadeus mozart, Vol. 35
Erich Kunz, Olga Maria Elisabeth Frederike Schwarzkopf, Jacques Thibaud, Erich Leinsdorf, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Klassik - Erschienen bei ArnebAudio am 11.04.2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wienerlieder heiter und besinnlich
Deutsche Musik - Erschienen bei Preiser Records am 14.09.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wien, Du Stadt Meiner Träume
Deutsche Musik - Erschienen bei Preiser Records am 10.08.2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Strauss: Die Fledermaus
Wilma Lipp, Gerda Scheyrer, Karl Terkal, Erich Kunz, Philharmonia Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra
Oper - Erschienen bei Past Classics am 01.03.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wiener lieder
World Music - Erschienen bei Vienna Classics Records am 25.09.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mélodies viennoises (Mono Version)
Pop - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1955
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Récital Johann Strauss II (Mono Version)
Oper - Erschienen bei BNF Collection am 01.01.1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Vienna, City of my Dreams
Klassik - Erschienen bei Blue Pie Records USA am 01.01.1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Die Lustige Witwe
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Erich Kunz
Klassik - Erschienen bei Sinetone PCA am 29.01.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Lehár: Highlights from Das Land Des Lächelns
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Erich Kunz
Klassik - Erschienen bei Sinetone PCA am 29.01.2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo