Josef Staudigl
Encyclopedia
Josef Staudigl (b. Wöllersdorf
, 14 April 1807; d. Vienna
, 28 March 1861) was an Austrian bass
singer.
and, from 1825, was a novice in the Benedictine monastery of Stift Melk. In 1827 he went to Vienna to study surgery there. On account of poverty he began to do some singing as a subsidiary enterprise, for he had possessed a very beautiful voice since childhood. When he won a professional appointment with the Wiener Hofoper
, and had gained a great success there, he brought his studies as a medic to an end. He made his mark by taking the place of a singer who was due to appear as Pietro in Masaniello
, who fell sick. In 1831 he became Hofkapellsänger (a court singer) and took part in the oratorio concerts of the Composers' Society.
He was already singing in London in 1842, when he appeared at Covent Garden in the German Company in the first English performance of Les Huguenots
, in the role of Marcel. He was also in the English première of Norma
, as Oroveso, in the following year. Through foreign engagements, especially in London, he also became very well known and highly esteemed internationally.
Between 1845 und 1848 he sang with much success at the Theater an der Wien
.
In 1847 in London he sang at Her Majesty's Theatre
the role of Bertram, opposite Jenny Lind
, in her London debut appearance in Robert le diable
. From 1848 to 1854 he sang at the Vienna State Opera. Josef Staudigl was one of the most famous bass singers of his age. He was greatly admired on the operatic stage, but was even more eminent as an interpreter of Lieder and as an Oratorio singer.
After 1856 he became increasingly emotionally disordered, and had to be admitted to the National Lunatic Asylum in Vienna, where eventually he died. He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery of Matzleinsdorf. Since the raising of the cemetery his grave can still be seen and lies in the burial enclosure of the cemetery annex called Waldmüllerpark. In 1872 the Staudiglgasse (Staudigl Street) in Vienna-Favoriten
was named after him. There is a plaque affixed to the house where he was born in Wöllersdorf.
Wöllersdorf-Steinabrückl
Wöllersdorf-Steinabrückl is a municipality in the district of Wiener Neustadt-Land in Lower Austria, Austria.-References:...
, 14 April 1807; d. Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, 28 March 1861) was an Austrian bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
singer.
Life
Staudigl attended the school in Wiener NeustadtWiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
and, from 1825, was a novice in the Benedictine monastery of Stift Melk. In 1827 he went to Vienna to study surgery there. On account of poverty he began to do some singing as a subsidiary enterprise, for he had possessed a very beautiful voice since childhood. When he won a professional appointment with the Wiener Hofoper
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...
, and had gained a great success there, he brought his studies as a medic to an end. He made his mark by taking the place of a singer who was due to appear as Pietro in Masaniello
La muette de Portici
La muette de Portici originally called Masaniello, ou La muette de Portici, is an opera in five acts by Daniel Auber, with a libretto by Germain Delavigne, revised by Eugène Scribe...
, who fell sick. In 1831 he became Hofkapellsänger (a court singer) and took part in the oratorio concerts of the Composers' Society.
He was already singing in London in 1842, when he appeared at Covent Garden in the German Company in the first English performance of Les Huguenots
Les Huguenots
Les Huguenots is a French opera by Giacomo Meyerbeer, one of the most popular and spectacular examples of the style of grand opera. The opera is in five acts and premiered in Paris in 1836. The libretto was written by Eugène Scribe and Émile Deschamps....
, in the role of Marcel. He was also in the English première of Norma
Norma (opera)
Norma is a tragedia lirica or opera in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with libretto by Felice Romani after Norma, ossia L'infanticidio by Alexandre Soumet. First produced at La Scala on December 26, 1831, it is generally regarded as an example of the supreme height of the bel canto tradition...
, as Oroveso, in the following year. Through foreign engagements, especially in London, he also became very well known and highly esteemed internationally.
Between 1845 und 1848 he sang with much success at the Theater an der Wien
Theater an der Wien
The Theater an der Wien is a historic theatre on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district of Vienna. Completed in 1801, it has seen the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music...
.
In 1847 in London he sang at Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre
Her Majesty's Theatre is a West End theatre, in Haymarket, City of Westminster, London. The present building was designed by Charles J. Phipps and was constructed in 1897 for actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who established the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the theatre...
the role of Bertram, opposite Jenny Lind
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria Lind , better known as Jenny Lind, was a Swedish opera singer, often known as the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she is known for her performances in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and across Europe, and for an extraordinarily...
, in her London debut appearance in Robert le diable
Robert le diable
Robert le diable may refer to:* Robert le diable by Giacomo Meyerbeer* Robert the Devil, a medieval legend...
. From 1848 to 1854 he sang at the Vienna State Opera. Josef Staudigl was one of the most famous bass singers of his age. He was greatly admired on the operatic stage, but was even more eminent as an interpreter of Lieder and as an Oratorio singer.
After 1856 he became increasingly emotionally disordered, and had to be admitted to the National Lunatic Asylum in Vienna, where eventually he died. He was buried in the Catholic Cemetery of Matzleinsdorf. Since the raising of the cemetery his grave can still be seen and lies in the burial enclosure of the cemetery annex called Waldmüllerpark. In 1872 the Staudiglgasse (Staudigl Street) in Vienna-Favoriten
Favoriten
Favoriten, the 10th district of Vienna, Austria , is located south of the central districts. It is south of Innere Stadt, Wieden and Margareten...
was named after him. There is a plaque affixed to the house where he was born in Wöllersdorf.
Sources
- C. Höslinger, 'Joseph Staudigl the elder', in Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon 1815–1950 Vol. 13, (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1957–2005), p. 120.
- H. Rosenthal and J. Warrack, 'Joseph Staudigl', The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera (O.U.P., London 1974 printing).