Michael Raucheisen
Encyclopedia
Translated from German Wikipedia
Michael Raucheisen (9 February 1889, Rain, Swabia - 27 May 1984, Beatenberg
) was a German
pianist
and song accompanist.
Music was inherited, for the young Michael. His father, by vocation a master-glazier, was organist, church choir leader and musical pedagogue. The musical development of his only son was so important to the family that they left the small town in which they lived.
From 1902 Raucheisen lived in Munich, and from 1920 until the end of his pianistic activity in 1958, in Berlin. He studied at the Munich High School for Music. Around 1906 he played first violin at the Prinzregententheater and was organist in St. Michael. In 1912 he founded the musical Matinees which have become famous.
From the beginning of the 1920s until the end of the Second World War he was song accompanist for many singers, including Frida Leider
, Erna Berger
, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
, Karl Schmitt-Walter
, Karl Erb
and Helge Rosvaenge
, to mention only a few of many. As an innovation he played his accompaniments with the piano lid open, in order to obtain a better tonal balance between the voice and the instrument. In 1933, following her divorce from Karl Erb, he married the soprano Maria Ivogün
. From 1933 he strove to create a complete catalogue of German language songs on gramophone recordings, for which, from 1940, he became head of the departmentment of Song and Chamber-music at the Berlin Rundfunk, for the organization of the studios there.
After the War he was banned from his work for some years on account of his possible collaboration with the Nazi regime, and afterwards he appeared only occasionally in public. In 1958 after a very successful tour with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, he returned to private life and migrated with his wife Ivogün to Switzerland. On the occasion of his 95th birthday he was, on 10 January 1984, granted the Free Citizenship of the town of Rain. Michael Raucheisen and his wife (who died in 1987) are buried in the municipal cemetery of Rain.
Michael Raucheisen (9 February 1889, Rain, Swabia - 27 May 1984, Beatenberg
Beatenberg
Beatenberg is a municipality in the Interlaken district of the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-History:Beatenberg is first mentioned in 1275 as super rupes. In 1281 it was mentioned as ob den fluen and in 1357 as Sant Beaten berge....
) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and song accompanist.
Music was inherited, for the young Michael. His father, by vocation a master-glazier, was organist, church choir leader and musical pedagogue. The musical development of his only son was so important to the family that they left the small town in which they lived.
From 1902 Raucheisen lived in Munich, and from 1920 until the end of his pianistic activity in 1958, in Berlin. He studied at the Munich High School for Music. Around 1906 he played first violin at the Prinzregententheater and was organist in St. Michael. In 1912 he founded the musical Matinees which have become famous.
From the beginning of the 1920s until the end of the Second World War he was song accompanist for many singers, including Frida Leider
Frida Leider
Frida Leider was a German opera singer.Leider was one of the most important dramatic sopranos of the 20th century. Her most famous roles were Wagner's Isolde and Brünnhilde, Beethoven's Fidelio, Mozart's Donna Anna, and Verdi's Aida and Leonora...
, Erna Berger
Erna Berger
Erna Berger , was a prominent German coloratura lyric soprano. She is most famous for her Queen of the Night and her Konstanze....
, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, DBE was a German-born Austrian/British soprano opera singer and recitalist. She was among the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, much admired for her performances of Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, and Wolf.-Early life:Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike...
, Karl Schmitt-Walter
Karl Schmitt-Walter
Karl Schmitt-Walter was a prominent German opera singer, particularly associated with Mozart and the more lyrical Wagner baritone roles....
, Karl Erb
Karl Erb
Karl Erb was a German tenor vocalist who made his career first in opera and then in oratorio and lieder recital. He excelled in all these genres, and before 1920 gave classic performances of key roles in modern works, and created lead roles in those of Hans Pfitzner...
and Helge Rosvaenge
Helge Rosvaenge
Helge Rosvaenge , Helge Anton Rosenvinge Hansen, was a famous Danish operatic tenor whose career was centred on Germany and Austria, before, during and after World War II....
, to mention only a few of many. As an innovation he played his accompaniments with the piano lid open, in order to obtain a better tonal balance between the voice and the instrument. In 1933, following her divorce from Karl Erb, he married the soprano Maria Ivogün
Maria Ivogün
Maria Ivogün was a distinguished soprano singer of Hungarian origin. She was especially an outstanding interpreter of the works of Mozart: her recording of the aria of the Queen of the Night became legendary.- Biography and artistic career :Maria Ivogün was born Ilse Kempner...
. From 1933 he strove to create a complete catalogue of German language songs on gramophone recordings, for which, from 1940, he became head of the departmentment of Song and Chamber-music at the Berlin Rundfunk, for the organization of the studios there.
After the War he was banned from his work for some years on account of his possible collaboration with the Nazi regime, and afterwards he appeared only occasionally in public. In 1958 after a very successful tour with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, he returned to private life and migrated with his wife Ivogün to Switzerland. On the occasion of his 95th birthday he was, on 10 January 1984, granted the Free Citizenship of the town of Rain. Michael Raucheisen and his wife (who died in 1987) are buried in the municipal cemetery of Rain.
Literature
- Harald Mann: Biografie Michael Raucheisen. In: Sieh auf: Beiträge zu Geschichte und Kultur der Stadt Rain und ihrer Umgebung. Nr. 7 (April 1984)