Heinrich Schlusnus

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Heinrich Schlusnus (August 6, 1888 - June 18, 1952) was Germany's foremost lyric baritone of the period between World War One and World War Two.

A native of Braubach, Schlusnus studied with voice teachers in Berlin and Frankfurt before making his debut at the Hamburg opera in 1915. Schlusnus sang at Nuremberg from 1915 to 1917 and at the prestigious Berlin State Opera from 1917 until 1951. He was engaged by the Chicago Opera for its 1927-28 season and appeared at the Bayreuth Festival in 1933.

During his tenure at Berlin, Schlusnus established himself as his country's greatest performer of Verdi's baritone roles and, according to most critics, no subsequent German baritone has matched his supremacy in this field. Schlusnus excelled in German opera parts, too, and earned critical renown as a concert artist and lieder singer despite stiff competition from rival baritones such as Herbert Janssen, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Gerhard Hüsch, Karl Hammes, Rudolf Bockelmann and Karl Schmitt-Walter.

By all accounts, Schlusnus was not a magnetic actor like his fellow Verdians Lawrence Tibbett or Tito Gobbi; but, by way of compensation, he was blessed with an exceedingly beautiful high baritone voice and an impeccable legato style of singing to go with it. Schlusnus's polished technique, coupled with the prudent management of his vocal resources, enabled him to enjoy an unusually long stage career. Schlusnus died in Frankfurt-am-Main not long after retiring from the stage.

[edit] Recordings

He frequented German recording studios during the 1920s, '30s and '40s, committing to record an array of lieder and operatic arias and duets. Many of these recordings are available on CD, notably a complete Rigoletto sung in German, opposite Erna Berger, Helge Rosvaenge, Margarete Klose and Josef Greindl.

[edit] References

David Ewen, Encyclopedia of the Opera.

[edit] External link

Heinrich Schlusnus singing Ja, du weisst es, teure Seele by Richard Strauss (film clip), 1944 [1]
Heinrich Schlusnus singing part of Wer in die Fremde will wandern by Hugo Wolf (film clip), 1944 [2]