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Ludwig Fischer (bass)

January 01, 1970

Johann Ignaz Ludwig Fischer (c. 18 August 1745 – 10 July 1825), commonly called Ludwig Fischer, was a German opera singer, a notable bass of his time.

Life edit

Ludwig Fischer was born in Mainz on 18 or 19 August 1745. Fischer began his musical studies not as a singer but with the violin and cello.[1] When he was heard singing in a church choir and in student operetta productions, his voice was noticed and he took up singing seriously. He was then made a supernumerary singer in the Electoral court of Mainz.[1] Starting in 1770, he studied voice with the tenor Anton Raaff in Mannheim,[1] where he had first sung professionally on stage in 1767.[1]

He continued to rise to prominence in Mannheim. In 1772 he was appointed virtuoso da camera at the Mannheim court, and Prince-elector Karl Theodor gave him a scholarship to enable him to continue his studies with Raaff.[1] In 1775 he became responsible for singing instruction in the Mannheim Seminarium Musicum.[1] By 1778 he was the highest-paid of the Mannheim court singers.[1]

In 1778, Karl Theodor became Elector of Bavaria, and he moved most of his Mannheim musicians with him, Fischer included, to the new court in Munich.[2]

While in Munich, Fischer married on 6 October 1779[3] the singer Barbara Strasser (born 1758 in Mannheim), who sang with him in Vienna[3] and was pensioned in 1798. The children of this marriage all became distinguished singers: Joseph Fischer (born 1780 in Vienna, died 1862 in Mannheim), Josepha Fischer-Vernier (born 1782, died 1854 in Mannheim), and Wilhelmine (born 1785).[1]

In 1779, Fischer moved to the Nationaltheater (today's Burgtheater) in Vienna (1779). He stayed in Vienna for three years, singing about twenty different roles.[3] In 1783 he sang with extraordinary success in Paris, in 1784 in the principal cities of Italy; starting 1785 he sang at the court of Karl Anselm, 4th Prince of Thurn and Taxis in Regensburg,[1] and in 1789 accepted a permanent appointment, made through the intercession of Johann Friedrich Reichardt, at the Italian Opera in Berlin, where he worked until retiring on pension in 1815. He took some breaks from his Berlin job to sing as a guest artist in other cities: Vienna (1787, 1798), London (1794, 1798, 1812).[3]

Fischer died 10 July 1825 in Berlin.

Roles edit

Fischer is perhaps best remembered today for the role of Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, a part "tailor made" for him by Mozart and which he sang in the premiere production (first performance 16 July 1782,[4]) during the Vienna phase of his career.[5] A year earlier, Antonio Salieri was inspired by his remarkable vocal range in composing his comic opera Der Rauchfangkehrer, writing for him the role of Herr von Bär. Further roles were Axur in Salieri's Axur, re d'Ormus, Osroes in Semiramide and Brenno in the eponymous opera by Reichardt.

Compositions edit

Apparently Fischer was also a composer but most of his work has not survived.[1] In 1802 he composed the "popular" drinking song "Im tiefen Keller sitz' ich hier".[1] Its two-octave range (F2 to F4)[6] is perhaps unusual for a popular song, but would not have been a barrier for the composer; see below.

Fischer and Mozart edit

Fischer was evidently a friend of Mozart's. When he got into a disagreement with the Imperial theatre manager, Count Orsini-Rosenberg [de], and decided to leave Vienna,[7] Mozart gave him a letter of introduction to help him as he pursued his career (successfully) in Paris.[3] In 1787, when Fischer returned to Vienna for a visit, Mozart created for him the aria "Alcandro, lo confesso...Non sò, d'onde viene", K. 512, which he sang at a concert he gave in the Kärntnertortheater on 21 March.[8] Mozart may also have written another work for Fischer, the recitative and aria "Così dunque tradisci...Aspri rimorsi atroci" (K. 432/421a).[1]

Shortly after, on April 1, Fischer wrote a 16-line poem of friendship in Mozart's album, whose last four lines (in English) are:

Wilt thou my devotion know?
This my recompense shall be:
Be my friend, for long ago
Hast thou a friend in me.[9]

In 1796 (28 February), Fischer participated in a memorial concert for Mozart organized by his widow Constanze; he sang excerpts from La clemenza di Tito.[10]

Assessment edit

A critic for the Deutsches Museum of Leipzig, writing in 1781, called him "the foremost bass in Germany, and after Günther [possibly Friedrich Günther [de] (1750 – after 1800)], the one who acts best".[11] According to Corneilson, this was a generally held view: "In his day Fischer was regarded as Germany’s leading serious bass singer."[1] Fischer could sing from a low D2 to a high A4,[1] and he controlled this extraordinary range with unusual lightness, purity, and precision.[1] Reichardt said of his voice that it displayed "the depth of a cello and the natural height of a tenor."[3]

Mozart was evidently delighted by Fischer's abilities. He added a major aria to the first act of Die Entführung, "Solche hergelauf'ne Laffen", explaining to his father by letter (26 September 1781) that "one must make good use of such a man"; adding that (as Clive says) "the new aria would provide an opportunity for Fischer's 'beautiful low notes' to glow".[3]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Corneilson 2014
  2. ^ Clive 1993, pp. 53, 81.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Clive 1993, p. 53
  4. ^ Deutsch 1965, p. 201.
  5. ^ Grout, Donald Jay; Hermine Weigel Williams (2003). "The Opera of Mozart and his Contemporaries". A Short History of Opera. Columbia University Press. p. 325. ISBN 0-231-11958-5. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  6. ^ . Der deutsche Liederschatz (text and notes). Archived from the original on 24 July 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  7. ^ Corneilson (2014) gives a different account of Fischer's departure, simply attributing it to the abolition of the German court opera company for which he worked; it was replaced by an Italian opera buffa theater.
  8. ^ Deutsch 1965, p. 286. The aria was a bass version of the soprano aria K. 294, written earlier for Aloysia Weber (Clive 1993, p. 53).
  9. ^ The full version is given in Deutsch 1965, p. 288.
  10. ^ Deutsch 1965, p. 479.
  11. ^ Deutsch 1965, p. 194.

References edit

This article includes material from the corresponding article in the German Wikipedia, which in turn is based on the public domain Meyers Konversations-Lexikon, 4th ed. 1888–1890. Other references:

External links edit

January 01, 1970
ludwig, fischer, bass, johann, ignaz, ludwig, fischer, august, 1745, july, 1825, commonly, calledludwig, fischer, german, opera, singer, notable, bass, time, contents, life, roles, compositions, fischer, mozart, assessment, notes, references, external, linksli. Johann Ignaz Ludwig Fischer c 18 August 1745 10 July 1825 commonly calledLudwig Fischer was a German opera singer a notable bass of his time Contents 1 Life 2 Roles 3 Compositions 4 Fischer and Mozart 5 Assessment 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksLife editLudwig Fischer was born in Mainz on 18 or 19 August 1745 Fischer began his musical studies not as a singer but with the violin and cello 1 When he was heard singing in a church choir and in student operetta productions his voice was noticed and he took up singing seriously He was then made a supernumerary singer in the Electoral court of Mainz 1 Starting in 1770 he studied voice with the tenor Anton Raaff in Mannheim 1 where he had first sung professionally on stage in 1767 1 He continued to rise to prominence in Mannheim In 1772 he was appointed virtuoso da camera at the Mannheim court and Prince elector Karl Theodor gave him a scholarship to enable him to continue his studies with Raaff 1 In 1775 he became responsible for singing instruction in the Mannheim Seminarium Musicum 1 By 1778 he was the highest paid of the Mannheim court singers 1 In 1778 Karl Theodor became Elector of Bavaria and he moved most of his Mannheim musicians with him Fischer included to the new court in Munich 2 While in Munich Fischer married on 6 October 1779 3 the singer Barbara Strasser born 1758 in Mannheim who sang with him in Vienna 3 and was pensioned in 1798 The children of this marriage all became distinguished singers Joseph Fischer born 1780 in Vienna died 1862 in Mannheim Josepha Fischer Vernier born 1782 died 1854 in Mannheim and Wilhelmine born 1785 1 In 1779 Fischer moved to the Nationaltheater today s Burgtheater in Vienna 1779 He stayed in Vienna for three years singing about twenty different roles 3 In 1783 he sang with extraordinary success in Paris in 1784 in the principal cities of Italy starting 1785 he sang at the court of Karl Anselm 4th Prince of Thurn and Taxis in Regensburg 1 and in 1789 accepted a permanent appointment made through the intercession of Johann Friedrich Reichardt at the Italian Opera in Berlin where he worked until retiring on pension in 1815 He took some breaks from his Berlin job to sing as a guest artist in other cities Vienna 1787 1798 London 1794 1798 1812 3 Fischer died 10 July 1825 in Berlin Roles editFischer is perhaps best remembered today for the role of Osmin in Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail a part tailor made for him by Mozart and which he sang in the premiere production first performance 16 July 1782 4 during the Vienna phase of his career 5 A year earlier Antonio Salieri was inspired by his remarkable vocal range in composing his comic opera Der Rauchfangkehrer writing for him the role of Herr von Bar Further roles were Axur in Salieri s Axur re d Ormus Osroes in Semiramide and Brenno in the eponymous opera by Reichardt Compositions editApparently Fischer was also a composer but most of his work has not survived 1 In 1802 he composed the popular drinking song Im tiefen Keller sitz ich hier 1 Its two octave range F2 to F4 6 is perhaps unusual for a popular song but would not have been a barrier for the composer see below Fischer and Mozart editFischer was evidently a friend of Mozart s When he got into a disagreement with the Imperial theatre manager Count Orsini Rosenberg de and decided to leave Vienna 7 Mozart gave him a letter of introduction to help him as he pursued his career successfully in Paris 3 In 1787 when Fischer returned to Vienna for a visit Mozart created for him the aria Alcandro lo confesso Non so d onde viene K 512 which he sang at a concert he gave in the Karntnertortheater on 21 March 8 Mozart may also have written another work for Fischer the recitative and aria Cosi dunque tradisci Aspri rimorsi atroci K 432 421a 1 Shortly after on April 1 Fischer wrote a 16 line poem of friendship in Mozart s album whose last four lines in English are Wilt thou my devotion know This my recompense shall be Be my friend for long ago Hast thou a friend in me 9 In 1796 28 February Fischer participated in a memorial concert for Mozart organized by his widow Constanze he sang excerpts from La clemenza di Tito 10 Assessment editA critic for the Deutsches Museum of Leipzig writing in 1781 called him the foremost bass in Germany and after Gunther possibly Friedrich Gunther de 1750 after 1800 the one who acts best 11 According to Corneilson this was a generally held view In his day Fischer was regarded as Germany s leading serious bass singer 1 Fischer could sing from a low D2 to a high A4 1 and he controlled this extraordinary range with unusual lightness purity and precision 1 Reichardt said of his voice that it displayed the depth of a cello and the natural height of a tenor 3 Mozart was evidently delighted by Fischer s abilities He added a major aria to the first act of Die Entfuhrung Solche hergelauf ne Laffen explaining to his father by letter 26 September 1781 that one must make good use of such a man adding that as Clive says the new aria would provide an opportunity for Fischer s beautiful low notes to glow 3 Notes edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Corneilson 2014 Clive 1993 pp 53 81 a b c d e f g Clive 1993 p 53 Deutsch 1965 p 201 Grout Donald Jay Hermine Weigel Williams 2003 The Opera of Mozart and his Contemporaries A Short History of Opera Columbia University Press p 325 ISBN 0 231 11958 5 Retrieved 23 December 2007 Im tiefen Keller sitz ich hier Der deutsche Liederschatz text and notes Archived from the original on 24 July 2004 Retrieved 23 December 2007 Corneilson 2014 gives a different account of Fischer s departure simply attributing it to the abolition of the German court opera company for which he worked it was replaced by an Italian opera buffa theater Deutsch 1965 p 286 The aria was a bass version of the soprano aria K 294 written earlier for Aloysia Weber Clive 1993 p 53 The full version is given in Deutsch 1965 p 288 Deutsch 1965 p 479 Deutsch 1965 p 194 References editThis article includes material from the corresponding article in the German Wikipedia which in turn is based on the public domain Meyers Konversations Lexikon 4th ed 1888 1890 Other references Clive Peter 1993 Mozart and His Circle New Haven Yale University Press ISBN 0 300 05900 0 via Internet Archive Corneilson Paul 2014 Fischer Ludwig Grove Music Online 8th ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article 09731 ISBN 978 1 56159 263 0 Deutsch Otto Erich 1965 Mozart A Documentary Biography Stanford California Stanford University Press via Internet Archive External links editFree scores by Ludwig Fischer at the International Music Score Library Project IMSLP Im tiefen Keller sitz ich hier on YouTube Gunter Wewel Kein schoner Land 2007 Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Opera Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ludwig Fischer bass amp oldid 1214694465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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