Paul Schöffler (Bass-Baritone)

Born: September 15, 1897 - Dresden, Germany
Died: November 21, 1977 - Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England

The distinguished German bass-baritone, Paul Schöffler, studied in Dresden, Berlin, and Milan.

In 1925 Paul Schöffler made his operatic debut at the Dresden State Opera as the Herald in Lohengrin; continued on its roster until 1938, then was a member of the Vienna State Opera until 1965. He also sang at London's Covent Garden (1934-39; 1949-53), the Bayreuth Festivals (1943-1944; 1956), and the Salzburg Festivals (1938-1941; 1947; 1949-1965). He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York in January 1950, as Jokanaan in Salome; continued to sing there, with interruptions, until 1956, returning in 1963 to sing one of his finest roles, Hans Sachs; remained on its roster until 1965, when he went to England.

Paul Schöffler’s other notable roles included Figaro, Don Giovannl, the Dutchman, Kurwenal, Scarpia, and Paul Hindemith's Cardillac and Mathis der Maler; he also created the role of Jupiter in the first stage performance of Strauss' Die Liebe der Danae (1952) and Einem's Danton (1947).

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2002)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Herbert von Karajan

Bass

BWV 232, BWV 244

Jonathan Sternberg

Bass

BWV 21

Hans Weisbach

Bass

BWV 244

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