Episode 279. Ernst Kozub Reappraised

Episode 279. Ernst Kozub Reappraised

Have you heard of the remarkable German Heldentenor Ernst Kozub? If you haven’t, you’re in for a special treat. And if you have, you know doubt have preconceived notions about him, which I hope that you will be prepared to set aside as I present an episode that explores the many facets of an often unjustly-maligned artist. Throughout his short life (he died in December 1971 shortly before his 48th birthday), Ernst Kozub performed a wide range of roles and styles of music, but he was certainly most celebrated for his Wagner and Strauss roles, as well as for his Florestan in Fidelio. The musical selections I have chosen today surround him with some of the most impressive of the jugendlich dramatisch soprano voices of the era, including Hilde Zadek, Melitta Muszely, Elisabeth Grümmer, and Gundula Janowitz, with special emphasis placed on two American sopranos whose careers were primarily based in Europe: Arlene Saunders and Claire Watson. Kozub also performs Schlager, operetta, Jewish cantorial music, nostalgic quasi-folk music, and operas by Offenbach, and Puccini, as well as his particular favorite, Verdi, all sung in German translation.

For those wishing to read the English translation of the excellent article by Klaus Ulrich Spiegel on Ernst Kozub, I have posted it (for free!) at my Patreon page. Here is the link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/109891871

RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE

Giuseppe Verdi, Francesco Maria Piave [after Victor Hugo; Johann Christoph Grünbaum (German translation)]: Ich seh’ heiße Zähren auf deinen holden Wangen [Parmi veder le lagrime] (Rigoletto). Ernst Kozub, Horst Stein, Berliner Philharmoniker [1961]

Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica [after Henri Murger]: Wie eiskalt ist dies Händchen [Che gelida manina] (La Bohème). Ernst Kozub, Ferenc Fricsay, RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester [1957]

Jacques Offenbach, Jules Barbier, Michel Carré [after E.T.A. Hoffmann]: Ha, wie in meiner Seel’ [Ô Dieu, de quelle ivresse] (Hoffmanns Erzählungen) Ernst Kozub, Robert Wagner, Großes Opernorchester [probably Hamburgische Staatsoper] [ca. 1962]

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Joseph Sonnleithner [after Jean-Nicolas Bouilly]: Und spür’ ich nicht linde, sanft säuselnde Luft (Fidelio). Ernst Kozub, Günther Wich, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker [live Düsseldorf 11.IX.1971]

Albert Lortzing: Hinaus mit jedem der noch lebt (Regina). Ernst Kozub, Walter Schartner, Orchester und Chor des Berliner Rundfunks [Berlin X.1951]

Alan Bush, Nancy Bush: O Schönheit, du hast mich verwund’ (Wat Tyler). Ernst Kozub, Alan Bush, Sinfonieorchester des Berliner Rundfunks [IV.1952 broadcast]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Emanuel Schikaneder: Tamino mein! O welch’ ein Glück (Die Zauberflöte). Ernst Kozub, Elisabeth Grümmer, Georg Solti, Orchester der Hessischen Rundfunk [live Frankfurt VI.1955]

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Joseph Sonnleithner [after Jean Nicolas Bouilly]: Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!… In des Lebens Frühlingstagen (Fidelio). Ernst Kozub, Otto van Matzerath, Orchester der Hessischer Rundfunk [live Frankfurt 27.XI.1957]

Walter Goetze, Oskar Felix, Otto Kleinert: Viel schöne Frauen gibt’s im bunten Liebesgarten (Der goldene Pierrot). Ernst Kozub, Erich Börschel, HR-Unterhaltungsorchester [Frankfurt 1959]

Hans Hermann Henning: Der Erfolg der Saison. Ernst Kozub, Alfred Matschat, Orchester Philharmonia [early 1960s]

Fritz Jöde, Hermann Löns: Du hast mein Herz gefangen. Ernst Kozub, Orchester Hans Freese [ca. 1962]

Philipp Rumschinski: Sh’ma kolenu. Ernst Kozub, Marie-Louise Girod, Choeurs Oratorio de Paris [Paris 1958]

Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Ghislanzoni [after Mariette Bey, unknown German translator]: Lass’ uns flieh’n aus diesen Mauern [Sì, fuggiam da queste mura] (Aida). Ernst Kozub, Hilde Zadek, Robert Wagner, Orchester des Landestheaters Innsbruck [ca. 1962]

Giuseppe Verdi, Arrigo Boito [after William Shakespeare; unknown German translator]: Du führtest mich in deiner Heimat Lande [Poi mi guidavi] (Othello). Ernst Kozub, Melitta Muszely, Franz Bauer-Theussl, Orchester der Volksoper Wien [ca. 1965]

Giuseppe Verdi, Joseph Méry, Camille du Locle [after Friedrich Schiller, German version by Franz Werfel]: Io vengo a domandar (Don Carlos) [sung in German]. Ernst Kozub, Claire Watson, Leopold Ludwig, Hamburgisches Staatsorchester [live Hamburg 17.XII.1968]

Richard Wagner: Und Friedmund darfst du froh dich nicht nennen? (Die Walküre). Ernst Kozub, Claire Watson, Georg Solti, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden [live Royal Albert Hall 02.IX.64]

Ludwig Van Beethoven, Joseph Sonnleithner [after Jean-Nicolas Bouilly]: O namenlose Freude (Leonore). Ernst Kozub, Claire Watson, Erich Leinsdorf, Orchestra Sinfonica della RAI di Torino [live Torino 07.IV.1970]

Richard Wagner: Dir töne Lob!… Stets soll nur dir mein Lied erklingen! (Tannhäuser). Ernst Kozub, Heinz Wallberg, Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice [live Venezia 16.II.1969]

Richard Wagner: Das süße Lied verhallt (Lohengrin). Ernst Kozub, Arlene Saunders, Matthias Kuntzsch, Hamburgisches Staatsorchester [Hamburg 28.IX.70]

Richard Strauss, Hugo von Hofmannsthal: Bin ich ein Gott, schuf mich ein Gott (Ariadne auf Naxos). Ernst Kozub, Arlene Saunders, Matthias Kuntzsch, Hamburgisches Staatsorchester [live Hamburg 06.VI.1968]

Richard Wagner: Die selige Morgentraumdeut-Weise… Selig wie die Sonne (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). Ernst Kozub, Gundula Janowitz, Theo Adam, Brigitte Fassbaender, Peter Schreier, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della RAI [live Roma 03.IV.1971]