Ernst Haefliger
Ernst Haefliger was one of the better known and more versatile tenors of his day. He was impressive both on the operatic stage and as a recitalist, and in each of these realms his repertory was broad, from Baroque era (J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion and St. John Passion) to the contemporary (Boris Blacher's Zwischenfälle bei einer Notlandung). Haefliger received high praise for his Schubert lieder, particularly for Winterreise and Die schöne Müllerin. His 1949 Salzburg Festival debut as Tiresias in Orff's Antigonae received critical acclaim. Haefliger was probably best known for his Mozart (Pamina, Ferrando, Don Ottavio, and others), and for his portrayals of the Evangelist in the Bach Passions. He was one of the first tenors to record Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde in stereo (Bruno Walter, conducting; 1960). The tone of Haefliger's voice, while appealing, was generally regarded as not particularly outstanding; yet, because of his precision in articulation and deft sense for phrasing, he achieved a vocal style quite unforgettable, quite distinct from other tenors of his generation. Though most of his recordings are decades old, many remain available on Philips (the largest source), Decca, Sony, DG, Naxos, Orfeo, Berlin Classics, Preiser Records, Testament, and other labels.
Ernst Haefliger was born in Davos, Switzerland, on July 6, 1919. He studied at the Zurich Conservatory and at the Geneva Conservatory, where his most important teacher was Fernando Capri; he later took vocal lessons in Vienna from iconic tenor Julius Patzak. Haefliger debuted in 1942 in Geneva singing the Evangelist in the St. John Passion. The following year he joined the Zurich Opera, remaining there until 1952.
From 1952-1974 he was a member of the Deutsche Oper, but frequently appeared at other major operatic venues and in recitals and orchestral concerts. Many important debuts took place during this 22-year run, including at Glyndebourne (1956) singing Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Chicago's Lyric Opera (1966), in the same role, and Moscow (1968) as the Evangelist.
Haefliger remained active well past his 1972 retirement from the Deutsche Oper. In fact, he was singing Schubert's Winterreise in recital as late as 1995 (London's Wigmore Hall), when he was 76! Even after he finally retired from singing, Haefliger made concert appearances in speaking roles, as in the 2002 performance of Schoenberg's Gurrelieder at the Proms (in London), where he was narrator. Haefliger died in Davos on March 17, 2007.
© TiVo
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Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Mahler: Orchestral Works
Hans Rosbaud, Sinfonieorchester Des Südwestfunks, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Eva-Maria Rogner, Ernst Haefliger, Grace Hoffman
Classical - Released by SWR Classic on Sep 11, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janácek: Glagolitic Mass; The Diary Of One Who Disappeared
Rafael Kubelik, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Ernst Haefliger
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1965
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Ernst Haefliger Edition
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jun 28, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach Cantatas · Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55 · Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78 · Herz und Mund und Tat und Leben, BWV 147
Ernst Haefliger, Aurèle Nicolet, Edgar Shann, Karl Richter, Müncher Bach-Orchester
Chamber Music - Released by G.O.P. on Nov 30, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Franz Schubert: Winterreise
Ernst Haefliger, Jörg Ewald Dähler
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Alte Deutsche Weihnachtslieder
Classical - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
La Belle Meunière, D 795
Ernst Haefliger, Jörg Ewald Dähler
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Le Chant du Cygne, D 957
Ernst Haefliger, Jörg Ewald Dähler
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Art of Ernst Haefliger
Classical - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on Aug 15, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ernst Haefliger: Essentials
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jun 28, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler Das Lied von der Erde
Classical - Released by Editions Audiovisuel Beulah on Nov 25, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Airs d'opéra et de concert
English Chamber Orchestra, Jörg Ewald Dähler, Ernst Haefliger
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
23 Mélodies
Ernst Haefliger, Jörg Ewald Dähler
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Messe Nelson
Jörg Ewald Dähler, Ernst Haefliger, Jakob Stämpfli
Classical - Released by Claves Records on Jan 1, 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mahler: Das lied von der Erde / Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Nan Merriman, Ernst Haefliger, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eduard van Beinum
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ferenc Fricsay Portrait - Kodály: Psalmus Hungaricus; Symphony; Dances of Marosszék
Ernst Haefliger, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester, Ferenc Fricsay, Chor der St. Hedwig's-Kathedrale, Berlin
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo