Lauritz Melchior

about

Lauritz Melchior (March 20, 1890 – March 19, 1973) was a Danish and later American opera singer. He was the pre-eminent Wagnerian tenor of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, and has since come to be considered the quintessence of his voice type. Born Lauritz Lebrecht Hommel Melchior in Copenhagen, Denmark, the young Melchior was a boy soprano and amateur singer before starting his first operatic vocal studies under Paul Bang at the Royal Opera School in Copenhagen at the age of 18 in 1908. In 1913, Melchior made his debut in the baritone role of Silvio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci at the Royal Theatre (Det Kongelige Teater) in Copenhagen. He sang mostly secondary baritone and bass roles for the Royal Danish Opera and provincial Scandianavian opera companies for the next few years. His second debut was on 8 October, 1918 in the title role of Tannhäuser, also at the Royal Opera in Copenhagen. In 1920, Melchior visited England to sing in an experimental radio broadcast to the Scandinavian capital cities from the Marconi station in Chelmsford. From 1920, Melchior was a frequent performer in London, appearing at Sir Henry Joseph Wood's Promenade Concerts in Queens Hall. While at London he met the popular novelist and passionate Wagnerite Hugh Walpole, who provided the fledgling Heldentenor with financial aid. Additional studies under Victor Beigel, Ernst Grenzebach and the legendary dramatic soprano of the Vienna Court Opera, Anna Bahr von Mildenburg, kept Melchior occupied unt

top songs

albums

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Lauritz Melchior in Concert 1944 - 1949

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Lebendige Vergangenheit - Lauritz Melchior Sings Wagner

The Wagner Roles 1929-1940

Lauritz Melchior Anthology Vol. 5

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Lauritz Melchior: The Danish Lieder, Vol. 9 (Recordings 1913-1947)

Lauritz Melchior Anthology Vol. 6

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Sing Wagner

Lauritz Melchior Anthology Vol. 4

Melchoir & Flagstad in Copenhagen

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Lauritz Melchior: Thrill Of Romance - 2 Sisters from Boston - Film Songs & Popular Songs

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Lebendige Vergangenheit - Lauritz Melchior (Vol.3)

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Lebendige Vergangenheit - Lauritz Melchior

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