Here is an episode of the BBC series "A Tenor Sang". The subject is Josef Schmidt and it was aired on May 1, 1992. From a kind and generous collector across the pond.
He was a Jew, he started singing as a Cantor in the synagogue and later went on to fame in Germany. Standing only four feet ten and he sadly Died in an internment camp in 1942 in Swiss at age 38.
I grew up vith father having an album of his songs called " The unforgotten voice" I am now in my 70's and when I feel lonely I play Joseph's songs. He was always my inspiration
How splendidly sublime is Joseph's God given voice! I was fortunate enough to grow up in a home filled with the sound of the voices of the most gifted singers ever. Iam now much older than my father who loved this music was so many years ago. Thank you, Donald for taking me back to those blessed days !
RIP GOD gave him a voice bigger than us all simply beautiful .God bless my mother for introducing the great German tenors to me . 60 years ago and still enjoying in my 70th year.
@@mikecarey3722 Please don't call Joseph Schmidt "German" because you'll make me cry. No way, he was not German at all and he had a terrible tragic death because of the Nazis. He was a ROMANIAN JEW born in Davideni, Bukovina, he even made his military service in Romania and he got training as a cantor in the Cernautzi Sinagogue. I'm sorry it doesn't exist yet a well documented biography of Joseph Schmidt (I'd even want to write it myself). RIP Joseph Schmidt and your mother.
I was not finished yet. I was born in Holland now living in Australia .I actually came across an LP of his in perfect Condition , I was delighted and often play this record. Sadly he died during the war.
@@willymolenaar937 Yes, he was Jewish, sadly being Jewish there at the time was dangerous of course, I'm so sorry he didn't stay in NYC in 1937 when he sang in Carnegie hall, a wonderful concert there , but he then went back to his beloved Berlin where he was very popular, others like tenor Richard Tauber (whose father was Jewish) quickly moved to London England, and lived for years there, until his death.
He was Juish, fled from Berlin to Vienna, made one more movie, fled to Netherland, fled to France, was arrested in a concentration Camp, managed to flee from there to Switzerland, broke down on the street, was recognized but arrested again, Gott no medical Help for his weak heart, died. In his tomb stone they wrote: Ein Stern fällt vom Himmel, one of his songs
Some woman who knew Schmidt , and was interviewed years after his death, felt the need to make the unkind remark that he was no Adonis . . . was that really necessary ??? He wasn't exactly the Frankenstein Monster either ! Joseph Schmidt may have been small in stature and didn't fit the norm of arien standards of looks , but he was far from ugly . He was slender, well-proportioned and had pleasant facial features , then there were those gorgeous dark eyes ! I would have been proud to be with him , famous or not . Our society is so shallow and superficial , even back then , people are judged by how they look, fame , or what they can be used for ; it's disgusting .Not only was Joseph Schmidt a gifted artist , but showed kindness to others despite his own life traumas, he gave generously to others , showed humility , not letting his fame make him think too highly of himself , and he loved his mother and took care of her . Those things are what truly counts . . He was not just a beautiful singer , but a beautiful human being
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT. BACK IN THE 1950'S WHEN I WAS SMALL, I LOVED TO HEAR HIM ON THE RADIO. MUM TOLD ME THEN THAT HE DIED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP, MURDERED BY THE GERMANS. WHAT A LOSS. I STILL LOVE TO HEAR HIM SINGING. A JEWEL!
@@colinglassborow5919 He died in Switzerland, in a Swizz intern Camp. The "neutral" Swizz didn't help Jews (just like many other countries) but persecuted and handed them over to Nazi Germany.
Very well described and observations on certain base aspects of frankly vile human nature. I fully share your feelings for the subject. Similarly, for Richard Tauber, who had better fortune…but perhaps only just given his unsuspecting - one might like to say « naive » but that would be grossly unfair. He wanted to return to his home base unaware of the dangers, thank goodness he had good friends who dissuaded him from doing so, and saved him. Those were hideous years to say the very least…But at least Tauber had good friends and saw the war through R.I.P. Likewise, one might say at least Joseph Schmidt did die alas of his own weak health condition and in a neutral country…That said, it is of little comfort to know that those local authorities did nothing to ease his condition. Of course, the forces of evil ie the Axis Powers were still in the ascendant and would be for a further six months before their stars would begin to fall.
His singing is effortless. As a fan of gigli bjoerling and the like it was unfortunate he couldn't go into opera. He was also a great chazan- cantor.a great coloratura. There are only a few cantorial pieces which he recorded. His coloratura at the end of la Donne mobile is flawless.
My father liked Richard Tauber who died in London in 1948 and had many of his records . He had I think 2 or 3 of Josef Schmidt who is my favourite Tenor
@@diplomamilldoc8562 yes its been said that Joseph Schmidt was not so good in the lower register yet I think that he never put out a recording that he failed in the lower notes
I "taped" this when it was first broadcast and I still have it It was the first time I had heard Joseph Schmidt and I have rated him as one of the greats.To-days tenors would be proud to have stood on his shoulders.
Fantastische stem en zo veeltalig. Bijzonder knap! Via plaat teruggevonden familieherinnering met Tiritomba en Ik hou van Holland. 1 van beste of beste tenor - naar mijn mening.
I was surprised to find this music on RU-vid. Wenn I was young my parents, my siter and I listend to this kind of music on the Belgium radio on sunday afternone, a program called Belcanto or something like that. With Tauber, Bengionino Gilli and many others.
What a privilege to hear this! I'm so glad it has been preserved. Does anyone know if he ever met Heddle Nash? I'm not aware of it, although I know Tauber did. Thanks so much, it's lovely!
@@laurielovett8849 You obviously have fine taste in tenors! What wonderful singers they all were. I have made a public playlist for Heddle Nash which you're most welcome to hear if you like. It is collected from various channels around RU-vid.
The narrator says the top note in Nessun Dorma isn't written in the score - it's clearly written, but is marked as an 1/8th note with no fermata. What tenor on the planet is going to sing it that way?? Had Puccini lived to finish the work and supervise the 1st performance, he surely would have changed it. Perhaps he also would have made a full ending to the aria, rather than having it dovetail into the interjections of Ping, Pang and Pong, which no-one ever hears because of the applause for the aria.
Wer diese *WIEDERGABE* TECHNISCH etwas modifizieren will, soll den Änderungsvorschlag ausprobieren, der hier beschrieben ist: ("Caruso-Einstellung") *Mein 'Vorschlag' einer* EQUALIZER Anpassung *-13,4 dB* (60Hz) *-13,5 dB* (230Hz) *-13,7 dB* (910Hz) *-15,0 dB* (4kHz) *+15,0 dB* (14kHz) *Vergleiche* die Wiedergaben z.B. ab 8:10f oder 13:10f. mit/ohne o.a. Equalizer-Einstellung..... Da wird die klarere Übertragung recht DEUTLICH hörbar; wie ein 'leicht verschwommenes' Foto plötzlich schärfer wird. *Warum* das so ist, kann man an dem *Graph* der Funktion, die sich aus dieser Einstellung ergibt, verstehen. *(Leider* wurden die gut gemeinten Anmerkungen von manchen als Negativkritik *missverstanden;* das sollen sie *NICHT sein:* Nur 'Vorschläge' zum Anhören *ALTER* Aufnahmen.) Der Eintrag wurde etwas ergänzt, weil es unterschiedliche Equalizer gibt! Die Profis brauchen den Hinweis nicht. Er bezieht sich allgemein nur auf 'Bass Booster Apps', ohne Zuschalten des BASS BOOST. Die meisten können damit ja richtig umgehen; viel Erfolg! Hat es schon jemand ausprobiert.. ist das nicht überraschend ?
Not exactly. He was hoping to find help in neighboring countries. In vain. Many others persecuted and deported them to Germany/ concentration camps. Schmidt died in a Swiss intern Camp. They didn't help him.
