Fritz Schrödter (Tenor) (Leipzig 1855 - Wien 1924)

First he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dusseldorf. He began his career as an operetta singer at smaller operetta societies in Cologne, Hamburg and Bremen. When he made guest appearance at the Friedrich-Wilhelmstädtischen Theater in Berlin, Johann Strauss heard him and provided in 1876 for him an engagement at the National Theatre of Budapest. In 1877 he came as an operetta tenor of the Ring-Theater in Vienna, then he studied under Kapellmeister Stoltz inPrague. His debut as an opera singer took place in 1879 at the German Theatre in Prague. Here he remained till 1886 and appeared among other things as Don Ottavio in ‘’Don of Giovanni’’, Duke in ‘’Rigoletto’’, Enzo in ‘’La Gioconda’’ of Ponchielli and as David in "Meistersingern". In 1884 he made guest appearance at the Covent Garden in London under Hans Richter. In 1886 he was engaged by the Vienna Court Opera; In Vienna he appeared as Buffo tenor, but also in the lyric tenor roles. Here he sang in three opera premieres of Karl Goldmark: on 19. 11. 1886 in ‘’Merlin’’, on 21. 3. 1896 in "Das Heimchen am Herd", on 2. 1. 1900 in "Ein Wintermärchen", on 6. 2. 1912 in"Die verschenkte Frau" by Eugene d'Albert, also in 1889 in the première of Weber’s "Die drei Pintos". In Vienna he also sang the role of Tonio in ‘’La Fille du régiment’’ of Donizetti, Turiddu in ‘’Cavalleria Rusticana’’, the title roles in ‘’Fra Diavolo’’ of Auber and ‘’Alessandro Stradella’’ of Flotow, Canio in ‘’Pagliacci’’, Assad in Goldmark’s  "Königin von Saba" and Peter Ivanov in  "Zar und Zimmermann"  by Lortzing. Till 1915 he remained a member of the Vienna Opera. In 1884 he made guest appearance at the German Theatre in Prague, in 1890 at the Opera House of Brünn, in 1901 at the Court Opera in Munich (as David in "Meistersingern"), in 1911 at the Opera House in Cologne (as an Iron Stone in "Fledermaus"). In the 1898-1900 seasons he appeared in the festival of Wiesbaden. On 15. 1. 1916 he sang at the Vienna Raimund Theatre in the premiere of the operetta "Das Dreimäderlhaus" by H. Berté. He was at the same time a highly respected concert singer; thus he performed in Vienna in the premiere of "Das klagende Lied" by Gustav Mahler (17. 2. 1901). He lived after his retirement as a pedagogue in Vienna; he was the father-in-law of bass Wilhelm Hesch (1860-1908).

Chronology of some appearances

1876 Budapest National Theatre

1877 Vienna Ring-Theater

1879-1886 Prague German Theatre

1884 Prague German Theatre

1884 London Covent Garden

1886-1915 Vienna Court Opera

1898-1900 Festival of Wiesbaden

1890 Brünn Opera House

1901 Munich Court Opera

1911 Cologne Opera House

1916 Vienna Raimund Theatre

RECORDINGS FOR SALE

G&T, Wien 1902-04

Carmen (Bizet): Blumenarie 42855 940x

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Am Jordan (Johannistag-Lied) 42757 2426B
Musica proibita (Gastaldon) 52686 900x
Werther (Massenet): Was bin ich aufgewacht 42737 2374B

G&T, Wien 1902-05

Trovatore (Verdi): Dass nur für mich 42883 1013x