Hermann Schey
{{short description|Dutch bass-baritone (1895–1981)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Hermann Schey
| image = Mozart Bass Arias, Herman Schey.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hermann Schey on the cover of a recording of Mozart bass arias by Philips Records, 1956
| birth_date = {{birth date|1895|11|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bunzlau, Province of Silesia, Germany
| death_date = {{death date and age|1981|08|21|1895|11|08|df=y}}
| death_place = Uerikon, Switzerland
| education = Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
| occupation = {{plainlist|
- {{nowrap|Classical bass-baritone singer}}
- Academic voice teacher
}}
| organization =
| awards =
}}
Hermann Schey (8 November 1895{{spnd}}21 August 1981) was a German-born Dutch bass-baritone and voice teacher. He performed internationally and recorded, especially works by Johann Sebastian Bach but also world premieres.
Life and career
Born in Bunzlau, Province of Silesia (now Bolesławiec, Poland), Schey received his musical education in Berlin at the Hochschule für Musik from 1913 to 1915 with Henry von Dulong. In 1915, he was drafted and could only continue his studies after the war. Since 1922, Schey worked in Berlin as a concert and oratorio singer. He was especially admired for his Bach interpretations.[http://www.rene-gagnaux.ch/schey_hermann/courte_biographie.html Hermann Schey] (in French) rene-gagnaux.ch
Concert tours brought him great success in European music centres. In 1925, he appeared in Schönberg's Gurre-Lieder at the Tonhalle Düsseldorf, conducted by Georg Lennart Schneevoigt.[https://musikverein-duesseldorf.de/georg-lennart-schneevoigt-13/ Georg Lennart Schneevoigt] (in German) Musikverein Düsseldorf In 1929, he sang Mahler's Kindertotenlieder in Amsterdam with the Royal Concertgebouw conducted by Willem Mengelberg, and then returned every year to perform in Bach's St Matthew Passion conducted by Mengelberg.[https://www.naxos.com/person/Herman_Schey/5325.htm Hermann Schey] Naxos Records The performances were recorded in 1936 (excerpts) and in 1939, with Karl Erb as the Evangelist, Willem Ravelli as the vox Christi, Jo Vincent, Ilona Durigo and {{ill|Louis van Tulder|nl}}.
In 1930, he undertook a major tour to Poland, Russia and the Balkan states, in 1932 he gave concerts in Paris and in 1933 in Zurich. He gave the world premieres of several Lieder by Othmar Schoeck, and in 1930 he sang the bass solo in the world premiere of Hans Pfitzner's cantata Das dunkle Reich in Berlin. As a Jew, he emigrated to the Netherlands in 1934 and became professor at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 1936. When the Netherlands were occupied by the German army in 1940, he had to stay in hiding until the end of the war.[https://401dutchdivas.nl/en/bassos/357-hermann-schey.html Hermann Schey] (in Dutch) Dutch Divas
After the Second World War, he resumed his career and took part in the Holland Festival. Concert tours took him to Germany, England, Austria and Switzerland. In 1968, he undertook a tour to Israel and performed at the Abu Ghosh Vocal Music Festival.[https://www.bach-cantatas.com/AG/AG.htm Original Abu-Gosh Music Festival] Bach Cantatas Website He also continued working as a singing teacher. He spent his retirement in Switzerland. Schey died aged 85 in Uerikon near Zürich.
Recordings
- Early recordings, Odeon
- Schubert: Winterreise, with pianist Marguerite Reyners[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k88170089.media Lieder / Franz Schubert ; Hermann Schey, basse chantante avec Marguerite Reyners, au piano] (in French) French National Library
- Recordings on labels DGG, Christschall, Tri-Ergon, MMS and Concert Hall, including Bach's Magnificat
- Recordings of Bach cantatas and other vocal works
References
{{reflist|30em
| refs =
| last1 = Kutsch
| first1 = K.-J.
| author1-link = Karl-Josef Kutsch
| last2 = Riemens
| first2 = Leo
| author2-link = Leo Riemens
| url =
| chapter = Schey, Hermann
| title = Großes Sängerlexikon
| publisher = Walter de Gruyter
| edition = 4th
| language = de
| date = 2012
| page = {{page needed|date=December 2023}}
| isbn = 978-3-59-844088-5
}}
| url = https://www.lexm.uni-hamburg.de/object/lexm_lexmperson_00002203
| title = Hermann Schey
| publisher = University of Hamburg
| language = de
| date = 2017
| access-date = 17 November 2020
}}
| url = https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Performers/Mengelberg.htm#RV
| title = Willem Mengelberg & Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam / Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works
| publisher = Bach Cantatas website
| date = 2010
| access-date = 17 November 2020
}}
}}
External links
- {{discogs artist}}
- [https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Schey-Hermann.htm "Hermann Schey (Bass-Baritone)"], Bach Cantatas website 2001
- [http://www.radiomusaeum.org/kir/index.php?cat=11_K-uuml~nstler-nbsp~A-Z&page=19_Sch "Hermann Schey"] (in German) radiomusaeum.org
- [https://www.gemischter-chor.ch/konzerte/konzertarchiv-seit-grundung-1863/liste-der-solistinnen-und-solisten/ Liste der Solistinnen und Solisten] (in German) gemischter-chor.ch 2020
- {{YouTube|aB7z2LHSLU8|Hermann Schey (1929) audio}}, "Die Nacht", Richard Strauss
{{portal bar|Biography|Opera|The Netherlands}}
{{authority control|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schey, Hermann}}
Category:People from Bolesławiec
Category:20th-century Dutch male opera singers
Category:German emigrants to the Netherlands