Michael Raucheisen
Michael Raucheisen was a seemingly ubiquitous presence on the European concert scene in the first half of the twentieth century, not, however, as a soloist or recitalist, but as the foremost German accompanist to singers. He also served as accompanist to instrumentalists, such as composer/violinist Fritz Kreisler. Perhaps Raucheisen's most important contribution, however, was his development of a large edition of German lied, recorded mostly in the wartime era for Berlin Radio. His activity in the recording studio in the 1940s was remarkable for its broadness of repertory and skill in both the accompaniment and singing. The fact that about 50 or so of Raucheisen's recordings are still available gives testament to the heft of the pianist's legacy. As suggested Raucheisen did much to promote German lied at the time with a repertory embracing Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schumann, Wolf, Richard Strauss, and others. But he championed lesser knowns, including Pfitzner, Marschner, and Loewe, and ventured out of the German sphere with works by Sammartini, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Grieg, Busoni, Vaclav Tomasek, and performed instrumental works by Gluck, Kreisler, Jenö Hubay, and arrangements of traditional songs such as Danny Boy. Raucheisen's recordings are available from a variety of labels, including Preiser, Berlin Classics, Testament, DG, and Music & Arts.
Michael Raucheisen was born in the Bavarian town of Rain am Lech on February 10, 1889. From 1902 the family lived in Munich, where young Michael would study at the Hochschule fur Musik. He was already proficient on the piano, violin, and flute, instruments he was taught to play by his organist father.
From about 1906 Raucheisen served as organist at St. Michael's Church in Munich and was concertmaster in the Munich Staatsoper Orchestra. He soon began serving as vocal coach to singers there and from around 1920 regularly appeared in recitals with them.
Raucheisen went on to partner many of the leading vocalists of the day, including Hans Hotter, Frida Leider, Erna Berger, Karl Erb, and Elizabeth Schwartzkopf. In 1933 Raucheisen married soprano Maria Ivogün, and thereafter often appeared with her in concert and on recordings.
From 1940, Raucheisen began the aforementioned German lied recording project. Following the war Raucheisen was temporarily forced to abandon most concert activity, owing to suspicions of wartime Nazi sympathies. He retired in 1958, following a highly successful tour with Schwartzkopf. Raucheisen relocated to Switzerland, where he died on May 27, 1984.
© TiVo
-
Cello Masterpieces: Gaspar Cassadó (Berlin 1935 - 1940)
Gaspar Cassado, Berliner Philharmoniker, Michael Raucheisen, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
Classical - Released by Jube Classic on 3 Sep 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peter Anders - Lieder von Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann, Wolf und R. Strauss
Peter A.G., Michael Raucheisen
Miscellaneous - Released by Eterna on 1 Jan 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kreisler, Gluck & Others: Chamber Works
Fritz Kreisler, Thomas Petre, Michael Raucheisen, William Primrose, Lauri Kennedy
Chamber Music - Released by Biddulph Recordings on 1 Dec 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolf: Auf's Wohlsein meiner Dame
Georg Hann, Michael Raucheisen
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 25 Jun 1942
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Am Grabe Anselmos, D.504
Tiana Lemnitz, Michael Raucheisen
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1937
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michael Raucheisen Vol. 13
Classical - Released by Documents on 5 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michael Raucheisen Vol. 16
Classical - Released by Documents on 5 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michael Raucheisen Vol. 6
Classical - Released by Documents on 5 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Heinrich schlusnus sings Schubert, Vol. 2
Heinrich Schlusnus, Franz Rupp, Sebastian Peschko, Michael Raucheisen
Classical - Released by G.O.P. on 31 Oct 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maria Ivogün (Recorded 1916 - 1932)
Maria Ivogün, Michael Raucheisen
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Prima Voce on 1 Nov 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Erna Berger Recital
Erna Berger, Michael Raucheisen
Opera - Released by Urania Records on 25 Mar 1952
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Peter Anders - Lieder von Beethoven, Schubert und Wolf
Peter A.G., Michael Raucheisen
Miscellaneous - Released by Eterna on 8 Sep 1965
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peter Anders singt Lieder von Franz Schubert und Robert Schumann
Peter A.G., Michael Raucheisen
Miscellaneous - Released by Eterna on 13 Oct 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kreisler: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 9
Fritz Kreisler, Carl Lamson, Hugo Kreisler, Michael Raucheisen
Chamber Music - Released by Naxos on 28 Feb 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolf: Wer auf den Wogen schliefe
Georg Hann, Michael Raucheisen
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 25 Jun 1942
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peter Anders: Lieder von Schubert
Peter A.G., Michael Raucheisen
Miscellaneous - Released by Eterna on 14 Apr 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hoch auf dem gelben Wagen
Georg Hann, Michael Raucheisen
Germany - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jul 1942
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Loewe: Archibald Douglas, Op. 128
Theodor Scheidl, Michael Raucheisen
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1928
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michael Raucheisen Vol. 2
Classical - Released by Documents on 5 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michael Raucheisen Vol. 23
Classical - Released by Documents on 5 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Michael Raucheisen Vol. 5
Classical - Released by Documents on 5 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo