Franz Kelch
Encyclopedia
Franz Kelch is a German bass-baritone
lied
and oratorio
singer. His discography includes works of Johann Sebastian Bach
, Dietrich Buxtehude, George Frederick Handel and Claudio Monteverdi
.
(Bavarian broadcast) in programs of early music
and new works of Munich composers such as Joseph Haas
, Hermann Zilcher
or Wolfgang Jacobi.
In 1948 Franz Kelch was the soloist for A German Requiem of Brahms with the Münchner Philharmoniker, then Bach's Mass in B minor with the Heinrich-Schütz-Kreis conducted by Michael Schneider, and Beethoven's 9th Symphony
with the Bamberger Symphoniker and Josef Keilberth. When in 1951 Karl Richter took over the Heinrich-Schütz-Kreis (that became the Münchener Bach-Chor
in 1954), they entered a collaboration until 1957 with performances of all major works of Bach, especially the Vox Christi
, the words of Jesus, in Bach's passions. K.H. Ruppel, the chief critic of the Süddeutsche Zeitung
, wrote about the St Matthew Passion in 1956: "Die Gestaltung der Christus-Partie durch Franz Kelch gehört in der geistigen Durchdringung, der Wärme des Ausdrucks und der kultivierten Führung der edlen Baßstimme zum Schönsten, was man sich an sängerischer Bachinterpretation denken kann."
Thomaskantor
Günther Ramin
engaged him for two tours of Western Europe and for the Archiv Produktion recording of the Johannes-Passion with the Thomanerchor
. He was a bass soloist for recordings by Fritz Werner
and the Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn of the Bach Passions, the Mass in B minor and many cantatas
for Erato
. He sang the role of Seneca in the first recording of Monteverdi's opera L'incoronazione di Poppea
in 1952 with Walter Goehr
and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
, released and awarded a Grand Prix du Disque
in 1954 and the Canti guerrieri et amorosi, 8th Book of Madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi
under Marcel Couraud in 1955.
In addition to its extensive concert activities as lied and oratorio singer in Germany and Western Europe, Franz Kelch taught from 1953 - 1978 at the Leopold-Mozart-Konservatorium Augsburg
, today named: Leopold Mozart Center. Numerous well-known opera and concert singer emerged from his 25 years of voice teaching.
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
lied
Lied
is a German word literally meaning "song", usually used to describe romantic songs setting German poems of reasonably high literary aspirations, especially during the nineteenth century, beginning with Carl Loewe, Heinrich Marschner, and Franz Schubert and culminating with Hugo Wolf...
and oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
singer. His discography includes works of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
, Dietrich Buxtehude, George Frederick Handel and Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
.
Biography
Franz Kelch started voice training in difficult times in 1937 with Henriette Klink in Nürnberg after mandatory military service. He had to interrupt his studies with the outbreak of World War II. After he returned from a prisoner-of-war-camp he started teaching and singing for the Bayerischer RundfunkBayerischer Rundfunk
Bayerischer Rundfunk [Bavarian Broadcasting] is the public broadcasting authority for the German Freistaat of Bavaria, with its main offices located in Munich. BR is a member of ARD.- Legal foundation :...
(Bavarian broadcast) in programs of early music
Early music
Early music is generally understood as comprising all music from the earliest times up to the Renaissance. However, today this term has come to include "any music for which a historically appropriate style of performance must be reconstructed on the basis of surviving scores, treatises,...
and new works of Munich composers such as Joseph Haas
Joseph Haas
Joseph Haas was a German late romantic composer and music teacher.-Biography:He was born in Maihingen, near Nördlingen to teacher Alban Haas from his second marriage, being half-brother to the theologist and historian Alban Haas. At an early age he came into contact with music...
, Hermann Zilcher
Hermann Zilcher
Hermann Zilcher was a German composer and conductor.- Selected works :Stage* Fitzebutze, Traumspiel in 5 acts by Richard Dehmel, Op. 19...
or Wolfgang Jacobi.
In 1948 Franz Kelch was the soloist for A German Requiem of Brahms with the Münchner Philharmoniker, then Bach's Mass in B minor with the Heinrich-Schütz-Kreis conducted by Michael Schneider, and Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)
The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...
with the Bamberger Symphoniker and Josef Keilberth. When in 1951 Karl Richter took over the Heinrich-Schütz-Kreis (that became the Münchener Bach-Chor
Münchener Bach-Chor
Münchener Bach-Chor is a mixed choir for concert and oratorio in Munich. Performances, international tours and recordings with Karl Richter and the Münchener Bach-Orchester made the choir internationally known.- Heinrich-Schütz-Kreis :...
in 1954), they entered a collaboration until 1957 with performances of all major works of Bach, especially the Vox Christi
Vox Christi
Vox Christi, Latin for Voice of Christ, is a term for the bass voice representing Jesus in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and others. This part appears prominently in Bach's Passions...
, the words of Jesus, in Bach's passions. K.H. Ruppel, the chief critic of the Süddeutsche Zeitung
Süddeutsche Zeitung
The Süddeutsche Zeitung , published in Munich, is the largest German national subscription daily newspaper.-Profile:The title literally translates as "South German Newspaper". It is read throughout Germany by 1.1 million readers daily and boasts a relatively high circulation abroad...
, wrote about the St Matthew Passion in 1956: "Die Gestaltung der Christus-Partie durch Franz Kelch gehört in der geistigen Durchdringung, der Wärme des Ausdrucks und der kultivierten Führung der edlen Baßstimme zum Schönsten, was man sich an sängerischer Bachinterpretation denken kann."
Thomaskantor
Thomaskantor
The Thomaskantor is the musical director of the Thomanerchor in Leipzig, founded in 1212. He is appointed by Leipzig's city council and his duties are to lead the weekly services called Motette, Sunday services and other services in the Thomaskirche, also to conduct recordings and tours.Johann...
Günther Ramin
Günther Ramin
Günther Werner Hans Ramín was an influential German organist, conductor, composer and pedagogue in the first half of the 20th century....
engaged him for two tours of Western Europe and for the Archiv Produktion recording of the Johannes-Passion with the Thomanerchor
Thomanerchor
The Thomanerchor is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. At present, the choir consists of 92 boys from 9 to 18 years of age...
. He was a bass soloist for recordings by Fritz Werner
Fritz Werner
Fritz Werner was a German choral conductor, church music director, conductor, organist and composer...
and the Heinrich-Schütz-Chor Heilbronn of the Bach Passions, the Mass in B minor and many cantatas
Bach cantata
Bach cantata became a term for a cantata of the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach who was a prolific writer of the genre. Although many of his works are lost, around 200 cantatas survived....
for Erato
Erato Records
Erato Records is a record label founded in 1953 to promote French classical music. In 1992 it became part of Warner Bros. Records. In 1999 Erato launched a subsidiary Detour Records....
. He sang the role of Seneca in the first recording of Monteverdi's opera L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea
L'incoronazione di Poppea is an Italian baroque opera comprising a prologue and three acts, first performed in Venice during the 1642–43 carnival season. The music, attributed to Claudio Monteverdi, is a setting of a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello...
in 1952 with Walter Goehr
Walter Goehr
Walter Goehr was a German composer and conductor.Goehr was born in Berlin where studied with Arnold Schoenberg and embarked on a conducting career, before being forced as a Jew to seek employment outside Germany, while working for Berlin Radio in 1932. He was invited to become music director for...
and the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich is a symphony orchestra founded in 1868 in Zürich Switzerland, where it established its residence in the neue Tonhalle in 1895....
, released and awarded a Grand Prix du Disque
Grand Prix du Disque
The Grand Prix du Disque is the premier French award for musical recordings. The award was inaugurated by l'Académie Charles Cros in 1948 and offers prizes in various categories. The categories vary from year to year, and multiple awards are often made in any one category in the same year...
in 1954 and the Canti guerrieri et amorosi, 8th Book of Madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Monteverdi
Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, gambist, and singer.Monteverdi's work, often regarded as revolutionary, marked the transition from the Renaissance style of music to that of the Baroque period. He developed two individual styles of composition – the...
under Marcel Couraud in 1955.
In addition to its extensive concert activities as lied and oratorio singer in Germany and Western Europe, Franz Kelch taught from 1953 - 1978 at the Leopold-Mozart-Konservatorium Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
, today named: Leopold Mozart Center. Numerous well-known opera and concert singer emerged from his 25 years of voice teaching.
External links
- Franz Kelch – Biography at Bach-Cantatas
- Entries for Bach recordings by Franz Kelch on WorldCatWorldCatWorldCat is a union catalog which itemizes the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries and territories which participate in the Online Computer Library Center global cooperative...
- Discography Franz Kelch (PDF)
- Wir gratulieren (We congratulate) 90th birthday in 2005, detailed biography and discography in Der Pasinger (in German)
- Franz Kelch – Eine bedeutende Sängerpersönlichkeit Vita, Discographie und Erinnerungen (in German)