Added: Aug 22, 2008
From: Herur22
Duration: 4:36
Live performance from Salzburg festival in 1954. Leporello - Otto Edelmann Donna Anna - Elisabeth Grümmer Don Giovanni - Cesare Siepi Don Ottavio - Anton Dermota Donna Elvira - Lisa della Casa Zerlina - Erna Berger Masetto - Walter Berry Commendatore - Deszö Ernsten Anton Dermota: Born: June 4, 1910 - Kropa, Slovenia Died: June 22, 1989 - Vienna, Austria Anton Dermota was born in Kropa (Slovenia) grewing up in poverty. Initially studying composition and organ at the Ljubljana conservatory, he received a scholarship in 1934 which took him to Vienna where he devoted himself exclusively to vocal studies with the famous coach Marie Radó. Anton Dermota made his early debut at the opera of Cluj (Klausenburg) in 1934. It was Bruno Walter who immediately invited him to the Vienna State Opera where he made his debut in 1936 as first Man in Armour Mozart's The Magic Flute. His first major role was Alfredo in La Traviata in 1937. He remained a loyal member of the Wiener Staatsoper for more than 40 years (!) and became one of the most popular and celebrated singers by the Viennese public. He also succeeded at the Salzburg Festival where he appeared regularly for 20 years. His repertoire was wider than is often remembered and his recordings give proof of this versatility. He was perhaps most renowned for his Mozart roles, such as Don Ottavio, Ferrando, Tamino and Belmonte. He also sang Jacquino, Cassio, Nurredin, David, Alfredo in Fledermaus and La Traviata, Rodolfo, Lenski, Des Grieux, Flamand in Capriccio, Oedipus in Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex, David, Hans in The Bartered Bride, Narraboth, Leukippos, Hoffmann and Elemer in Arabella. Later he occasionaly ventured into the youthful "Heldentenor" repertoire, singing the title role in Smetana's Dalibor, Max in Freischütz and Laca in Jenufa. In 1955 he appeared as Florestan in the inaugural performance of the rebuilt Staatsoper with a splendid cast. His repertoire included all together 80 roles! His interpretation of the title role in Pfitzner's monumental opera Palestrina was well remembered by the Viennese public for many years. He was engaged at the operas of London, Paris, Rome, Naples, Teatro Colón and toured Australia, Czechoslovakia and Hungary. Dermota was an accomplished lieder singer and gave hundreds of song recitals accompanied by his wife, the pianist Hilde Berger-Weyerwald. In 1966 he became a sought-after singing coach at the Wiener Musikhochschule. In honor of Kammersänger Anton Dermota's 70th birthday, the management of the Vienna State Opera invited him to appear as Tamino (which he sang with a voice unimpared). He died after his 79th birthday in 1989. Il mio tesoro intanto Andate a consolar, E del bel ciglio il pianto Cercate di asciugar. Ditele che i suoi torti A cendicar io vado; Che sol di stragi e morti Nunzio vogl'io tornar.
Channel: Music
Tags: amadeus anton dermota don giovanni il intanto live mio mozart salzburg tesoro wolfgang
Rating: 4.92 (12 ratings) Views: 1528' favoriteCount='10 Comments: 15
Herur22 Says:
Aug 22, 2008 - Thank you, Paul. I wanted to post also Dalla sua pace, but unfortunately this aria wasn't on the video. No idea why not.
dollartwenty Says:
Aug 25, 2008 - "Dalla sua pace" was often cut up until the 1970s.
Herur22 Says:
Aug 25, 2008 - Really? Why on earth should they do it?
dollartwenty Says:
Aug 25, 2008 - I think it was a way of shortening the evening as the aria doesn't really affect the story. When I was an aspiring tenor back in the 70s my teacher, Ronald Dowd(a well known Australian tenor who had a big career at Covent Garden) always lamented that he rarely got to sing it, even in Vienna!
Herur22 Says:
Aug 25, 2008 - And the poor don Ottavio remained with only one aria. Very ungrateful role!
mjmacmtenor Says:
Aug 25, 2008 - Actually, "Dalla sua pace" was not in the original score of Don G as premiered in Prague. It was added for the Viennese premiere as a substitute for "Il mio tesoro" (the colorature was too difficult for the tenor hired). I don't know when it became common practice to include both arias (but current tenors are thankful as it is a somewhat thankless part). The recording from the 60s (Karajan) with Gedda includes both I believe.
Herur22 Says:
Aug 25, 2008 - Thank you for the explanation, Mjnacmtenor. How interesting histories are behind some operas.
EvaHartwig Says:
Sep 1, 2008 - Matchless.
Glenmed Says:
Sep 2, 2008 - I've listened closely to a dozen renditons of this aria today. All superb. All would be in top place, if it wasn't for the other eleven! Anton has to join the roll of honour. His stage presence is wonderfully powerful too.
LjubljanaSI Says:
Sep 9, 2008 - Thanks for this record: truly, Anton Dermota was an outstanding Slovenian singer but unfortunatelly rarely sang in Ljubljana. I can't stop listening to his beautiful, powerful and open voice. For those who might be interested in a fanstastic piece of Slovenian romantic music I direct you to enter here at Youtube "Serenada za godala" (Serenade for the strings)of Slovenian composer Benjamin Ipavec. You won't be dissapointed, believe me :::)))
Moegiust Says:
Oct 27, 2008 - Thank you for posting not only this splendid clip of Dermota singing faultlessly at the height of his powers, but also for the exemplary text you provided to accompany it.
macciboma Says:
Nov 3, 2008 - Eccezionale tenore, peccato che si sia dedicato quasi interamente nel rpertorio di Mozart. Ci mancano le sue interpretazioni nel resto della lirica Grazie. Walter.
blichilde Says:
Nov 28, 2008 - Velvety voice,great and perhaps underrated tenor.
lido2008ve Says:
Nov 29, 2008 - Peccato certo, che si sia dedicato quasi sempre al repertorio mozartiano, ma è forse proprio per questo che qui lo ascoltiamo nel più eccelso "Don Ottavio" possibile.
tHEnOOSEsWING Says:
Aug 22, 2008 - This is an beautifully filmed opera. The entire set including the costumes have such gorgeous details. The colours are wonderful. And Anton Dermota gives a perfectly balanced performance. Thank you Herur22 for your great video.