He was Mahler's favorite bass (Vienna 1894-1908). He was excellent in Mozart (Leporello, Osmin, Figaro, Sarastro, Alfonso) and Wagner roles and was also a great Rocco. Thank you very much for posting this !
Wilhelm Hesch (3 July 1860 - 4 January 1908) was a Czech bass, born as Vilém Hes. He studied in Prague and made his debut in 1880 in Brno, where Leo Slezak, Maria Jeritza and Leopold Demuth all began their careers.
Arriving at the Wiener Hofoper (now Wiener Staatsoper) in 1896 via Prague and Hamburg, he performed 60 roles spanning the entire repertory from Mozart to Wagner, with 14 local premieres including Smetana's "The Bartered Bride" and "Dalibor", Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" and "Iolanta", Saint-Saëns's "Samson et Dalila", and Siegfried Wagner's "Der Bärenhäuter".
Hesch was a real 'basso profondo' of great size, wide range, and flexibility, with good diction. He was also a fine actor, but not really successful in declamatory parts like those of Wagner, though he sang them often enough. Hesch recorded for Berliner, G&T, Odeon, Columbia, and Beka.
He was Mahler's favorite bass (Vienna 1894-1908). He was excellent in Mozart (Leporello, Osmin, Figaro, Sarastro, Alfonso) and Wagner roles and was also a great Rocco. Thank you very much for posting this !
ResponderEliminarWilhelm Hesch (3 July 1860 - 4 January 1908) was a Czech bass, born as Vilém Hes. He studied in Prague and made his debut in 1880 in Brno, where Leo Slezak, Maria Jeritza and Leopold Demuth all began their careers.
ResponderEliminarArriving at the Wiener Hofoper (now Wiener Staatsoper) in 1896 via Prague and Hamburg, he performed 60 roles spanning the entire repertory from Mozart to Wagner, with 14 local premieres including Smetana's "The Bartered Bride" and "Dalibor", Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" and "Iolanta", Saint-Saëns's "Samson et Dalila", and Siegfried Wagner's "Der Bärenhäuter".
Hesch was a real 'basso profondo' of great size, wide range, and flexibility, with good diction. He was also a fine actor, but not really successful in declamatory parts like those of Wagner, though he sang them often enough. Hesch recorded for Berliner, G&T, Odeon, Columbia, and Beka.
(source: Marston Records)