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Erich Wenk (Bass-Baritone)

Born: 1923 - Königsberg/Ostpreußen, Germany

The musical gifts of the German bass, Erich Wenk, showed up very early, when he sang already six years in boys’ choir.

After many years of studies Erich Wenk turned for short time to the stage singing. However, he decided then to dedicate himself completely to activity on the concert podium. He started to make reputation for himself particularly by broadcast concerts, in which he performed frequently works of J.S. Bach. In 1957 he undertook a German tour together with Erna Berger, Gertrude Pitzinger and Walther Ludwig, and the quartet performed the Liebesliederwalzer of Brahms. The artist had then important successes at the Bach Festivals of Lüneburg and Heidelberg and at the Göttingen Händel Festival. During 1960-1962 he participated in the Festival Weeks of Berlin. He gave concerts in the music centres of the Europe, including Amsterdam, Basel, Bordeaux, Brussels, in the Cathedral of Chartres, in Göteborg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, in the Leipzig Thomas Church, in Madrid, Paris and Zürich. He excelled primarily as a great interpreter of J.S. Bach in his Passions and Cantatas. However, his repertoire covered in addition an abundance of works by Händel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Mendelssohn, and in addition, compositions of modern masters. At the same time he was an important Lieder interpreter.

In 1969 Erich Wenk received a teaching job in the Musikhochschule of Köln.

Erich Wenk’s voice can be heard on many labels: on Ariola Eurodisc (Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) of J.S. Bach), on Concert Hall, Vox, L'Oiseau Lyre (Bach Cantatas), on Wergo (La Resurrezione of Händel) and other labels. On Nonesuch he sang the role of the Minister in Fidelio.

Source: Operissimo Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (July 2001)
Contributed by
Aryeh Oron (July 2001)


Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Hans Grischkat

Bass

BWV 232

Helmuth Rilling

Bass

BWV 45, BWV 176, BWV 201, BWV 206, BWV 215, BWV 243

Kurt Thomas

Bass

BWV 68, BWV 70, BWV 147

Fritz Werner

Bass

BWV 8, BWV 21, BWV 26, BWV 31, BWV 61, BWV 90, BWV 98, BWV 105, BWV 110, BWV 149, BWV 182

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BWV 244

Links to other Sites

 


Short Biographies: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Explanation | Acronyms

Introduction | Cantatas | Other Vocal | Non-Vocal | Performers | General Topics | Articles | Books | Movies
Biographies | Texts & Translations | Scores | References | Commentary | Music | Concerts | Bach Tour | Memorabilia
Chorale Texts | Chorale Melodies | Lutheran Church Year | Readings | Poets & Composers | Transcriptions
Search Website | Search Works/Movements | Terms & Abbreviations | Copyright Notice | How to contribute | Links

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Last update: ýMay 2, 2004 ý15:54:27