Carl Mayerhofer by Dr Szekely

CARL MAYERHOFER
(1828-1913)
Austrian Bass
He trained with Manuel Garcia jr.in London. He first appeared as a soloist in oratorios, He received an engagement at the court theater of Weimar, which was at that time led by Franz Liszt. In 1854 he was appointed at Vienna Court opera as Don Giovanni and as Rocco in "Fidelio" Here he performed buffo roles because of his large bass voice and his masterful acting talent . His repertoire was very versatile and culminated in roles such as Leporello in "Don Giovanni", the Masetto in the same opera, Figaro in "The Marriage of Figaro", the speaker in "The Magic Flute" the Lord Cockburn in "Fra Diavolo" by Auber , the Bartolo in "Barber of Seville" (his big starring role), the title role in Donizetti's "Don Pasquale", the Lord flood in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" by Nicolai, the in "Fidelio", the Frère Laurent in "Rocco Roméo et Juliette "by Gounod, but he also sang Wagner roles such as Daland in" The Flying Dutchman ", the Landgrave in" Tannhäuser "and the Pogner in the" Meistersinger ". On 11.19.1886 he was in the world premiere of the opera "Merlin" by Karl Goldmark, on 16.02.1892 in the world premiere of Massenet's "Werther", which took place under the direction of the composer in Vienna, . In 1899 he sang at the Court Opera in the premiere of the opera "The Three Pintos" by Carl Maria von Weber .Guest performances and concerts brought him in London had the same success as in Vienna. When Richard Wagner conducted concerts of his music in 1863 at the Vienna Theater an der Wien, he sang as a soloist with the speech of the Pogner from "Die Meistersinger". In 1895 he resigned from his over 40-year career at the Vienna Court Opera, to which he was appointed honorary member.