Karl Aagaard Østvig (Oestvig) (Tenor) (Oslo 1889 – Oslo 1968)

                                                                 Don Jose

                                                               Lohengrin

He received his education in Germany, namely from W. Kloed, Ludwig Wüllner and Fritz Steinbach in Cologne. He made his debut in 1914 at the Court Opera of Stuttgart. Here he appeared as Giovanni de Salviati on 26. 9. 1915 in the premiere of the opera ‘’Mona Lisa’’ Max von Schillings. Until 1919 he was a member of the Stuttgart Opera, then till 1926 sang at the Vienna State Opera. Here he sang on 10. 10. 1919 the role of Emperor in the premiere of ‘’Frau ohne Schatten’’ R. Strauss. In Vienna he was celebrated as a partner of famous soprano Maria Jeritza with whom he had his great success in ‘’Toten Stadt’’ of Korngold (1921) and ‘’Ariadne auf Naxos’’ of R. Strauss. In 1924 with the ensemble of the Vienna State Opera he made guest appearances in Amsterdam among other things as Bacchus in ‘’Ariadne auf Naxos’’ of R. Strauss, who considered him one of the best interpreters of this part. In 1926 he had a conflict with the Vienna State Opera, when he wanted to appear at the Vienna Carl Theatrein an operetta. The management of the Vienna State Opera forbade him and he picked up his engagement in Vienna. In the 1927-30 seasons he appeared at the Städtischen Oper in Berlin. He made guest appearances in Basel (1917), Munich (1919), Budapest, Hamburg (1926) and in 1933 again at the Städtischen Oper in Berlin. Since 1923 he undertook the vast concert tours, which brought him great success not only in Europe, but also in North America. His second wife was the soprano Maria Rajdl (1900-1972), who later was active together with him in Oslo as pedagogue. Since 1932 he lived as a pedagogue and opera director in Oslo. After the occupation of Norway by the Nazi German soldiers he took over in 1941 the management of the opera house in Oslo. After end of the war he was arrested temporarily as a collaborator; later he lived secludedly in Oslo. His daughter Lillemari Oestvig, who became known as a concert soprano, came from his marriage with Maria Rajdl.

Chronology of some appearances

1914-1919 Stuttgart Court Opera 

1915 Stuttgart Court Opera  Mona Lisa (Giovanni de Salviati)

1919 Vienna State Opera Frau ohne Schatten (Emperor)

1919-1926 Vienna State Opera

1921 Vienna State Opera Toten Stadt

1924 Vienna State Opera Ariadne auf Naxos

1925 Vienna State Opera

1927-1930 Berlin Städtischen Oper 

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

Grammophon, Berlin 1922

Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land 72827 B22097

Lohengrin (Wagner): Mein lieber Schwan! 72828 B22098

Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Morgenlich leuchtend 72829 B22099

Meistersinger von Nurnberg (Wagner): Fanget an! 72830 B22100