Heinz Rehfuss
Encyclopedia
Heinz Julius Rehfuss was a Swiss
operatic bass-baritone
, who later became an American citizen. He was particularly associated with the title roles in Don Giovanni
and Boris Godunov
, and Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande
.
Born in Frankfurt
, Germany, he was the son of Carl Rehfuss (1885-1946), a baritone, concertist and teacher, and his wife, alto
Florentine Rehfuss-Peichert. He spent his youth in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where his father was teaching at the Conservatory, and was entirely trained by him. He made his debut in 1938 at the Städtebundtheater in Biel-Solothurn
, as a choral singer and stage designer, and sang as a soloist in Luzern during the 1938-39 season.
He appeared at the Zurich Opera
from 1940 until 1952, where he undertook some 80 roles. From 1952, he made frequent guest appearances in opera houses all over Europe, including La Scala
in Milan, the Opéra National de Paris, the Vienna State Opera
, the Liceo in Barcelona, the Munich State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
, La Fenice
in Venice, the Edinburgh Festival
, etc. He went on concert tours in America, Asia and Africa. With his smooth and melifluous voice, he was an outstanding lieder and oratorio
singer, particularly admired in works by Johann Sebastian Bach
. He also appeared and created many contemporary works by composers such as Stravinsky, Milhaud
, Britten, and took part in the premiere of Nono
's opera Intolleranza 1960, in 1961.
In later years, Rehfuss taught at the State University of New York
in Buffalo, New York
, and was a visiting teacher at the Eastman School of Music
in Rochester, New York
, and at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. He died in Buffalo, New York.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
operatic bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
, who later became an American citizen. He was particularly associated with the title roles in Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
and Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov (opera)
Boris Godunov is an opera by Modest Mussorgsky . The work was composed between 1868 and 1873 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is Mussorgsky's only completed opera and is considered his masterpiece. Its subjects are the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar during the Time of Troubles,...
, and Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande
Pelléas et Mélisande (opera)
Pelléas et Mélisande is an opera in five acts with music by Claude Debussy. The French libretto was adapted from Maurice Maeterlinck's Symbolist play Pelléas et Mélisande...
.
Born in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany, he was the son of Carl Rehfuss (1885-1946), a baritone, concertist and teacher, and his wife, alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
Florentine Rehfuss-Peichert. He spent his youth in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where his father was teaching at the Conservatory, and was entirely trained by him. He made his debut in 1938 at the Städtebundtheater in Biel-Solothurn
Solothurn
The city of Solothurn is the capital of the Canton of Solothurn in Switzerland. The city also comprises the only municipality of the district of the same name.-Pre-roman settlement:...
, as a choral singer and stage designer, and sang as a soloist in Luzern during the 1938-39 season.
He appeared at the Zurich Opera
Zurich Opera
Oper Zürich is an opera company based in Zurich, Switzerland. The company gives performances in the Opernhaus Zürich which has been the company’s home for fifty years.-History:...
from 1940 until 1952, where he undertook some 80 roles. From 1952, he made frequent guest appearances in opera houses all over Europe, including La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
in Milan, the Opéra National de Paris, the Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, the Liceo in Barcelona, the Munich State Opera, the Monte Carlo Opera, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is an annual opera festival which was founded in April 1933 by conductor Vittorio Gui with the aim of presenting contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions. It was the first music festival in Italy. The first opera presented was Verdi's early...
, La Fenice
La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of the most famous theatres in Europe, the site of many famous operatic premieres. Its name reflects its role in permitting an opera company to "rise from the ashes" despite losing the use of two theatres...
in Venice, the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
, etc. He went on concert tours in America, Asia and Africa. With his smooth and melifluous voice, he was an outstanding lieder and oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
singer, particularly admired in works by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. He also appeared and created many contemporary works by composers such as Stravinsky, Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
, Britten, and took part in the premiere of Nono
Luigi Nono
Luigi Nono was an Italian avant-garde composer of classical music and remains one of the most prominent composers of the 20th century.- Early years :Born in Venice, he was a member of a wealthy artistic family, and his grandfather was a notable painter...
's opera Intolleranza 1960, in 1961.
In later years, Rehfuss taught at the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and was a visiting teacher at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. He died in Buffalo, New York.
Selected recordings
- Gounod - Faust - Léopold Simoneau, Pierrette Alarie, Heinz Rehfuss - Vienna Opera Chorus, Vienna Festival Orchestra, Gianfranco Rivoli - (VAI, 1963)
- Gounod - Roméo et Juliette - Raoul Jobin, Janine Micheau, Heinz Rehfuss - Choeur et Orchestre de l'Opéra de Paris, Alberto Erede - (Decca, 1953)
- Debussy - Pelleas et Mélisande - Suzanne Danco, Pierre Mollet, Heinz Rehfuss - Choeur et Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet - (Decca, 1952)
- Mahler - Des Knaben Wunderhorn - Maureen Forrester, Heinz Rehfuss - Vienna Festival Orchestra, Felix Prohaska - (Vanguard, 1963)
Videography
- Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro - Heinz Rehfuss, Marcella Pobbé, Rosanna Carteri, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Dora Gatta - Coro e Orchestra della RAI Milano, Nino Sanzogno - (Hardy Classics, 1956)
Sources
- Grove Music Online, Jürg Stenzl, August 2008.