Heinz Rehfuss

Heinz Rehfuss Julius (rarely also in the spelling Rehfuss, born May 25, 1917 in Frankfurt am Main, † June 27, 1988 in Buffalo ) was a Swiss bass-baritone, who took the U.S. citizenship later. His name is mentioned primarily in the context of the title roles in Don Giovanni and Boris Godunov, as well as Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande.

Life

Heinz Rehfuss was born in Frankfurt am Main, the son of baritone, Konzertisten and teacher, Carl Rehfuss (1885-1946) and his wife, the contralto Florentine Rehfuss Peichert. He spent his youth in Neuchâtel, where his father taught at the conservatory. Heinz Rehfuss had only his father teaching. He made his debut in 1938 at the Städtebundtheater Biel -Solothurn as a chorister, he also sang as a soloist from 1938 to 1939 in Lucerne.

From 1940-1952 he sang at the Zurich Opera, where he performed at the 80 roles. From 1952 he appeared in opera houses throughout Europe, including at La Scala, the Opéra National de Paris, the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera, the Liceo in Barcelona, ​​the Opéra de Monaco, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Fenice in Venice and the Edinburgh Festival to name just a few. He undertook concert tours in America, Asia and Africa. He was not only successful in dramatic roles, but also as an oratorio singer, especially as a Bach interpreter.

Heinz Rehfuss interpreted and edited contemporary works by composers such as Stravinsky, Milhaud or Britten. In 1961 he sang in Venice in the premiere of Nono's Intolleranza 1960 and 1963 in that of Monsieur de Pourceaugnac by Frank Martin. In later years, Rehfuss taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo, New York firm and served as a visiting professor at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal.

Heinz Rehfuss died in Buffalo, New York.

Recordings (selection)

  • Gounod - Faust - Léopold Simoneau, Pierrette Alarie, Heinz Rehfuss - Vienna Opera Chorus, Vienna Festival Orchestra, Gianfranco Rivoli - (VAI, 1963)
  • Gounod - Roméo et Juliette - Raoul Jobin, Janine Micheau, Heinz Rehfuss - Choeur et Orchestre de l' Opéra de Paris, Alberto Erede - ( Decca, 1953)
  • Debussy - Pelleas et Melisande - Suzanne Danco, Pierre Mollet, Heinz Rehfuss - Choeur et Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet - ( Decca, 1952)
  • Mahler - Des Knaben Wunderhorn - Maureen Forrester, Heinz Rehfuss - Vienna Festival Orchestra, Felix Prohaska - ( Vanguard, 1963)

Videography

  • Mozart - Le nozze di Figaro - Heinz Rehfuss, Marcella Pobbé, Rosanna Carteri, Nicola Rossi - Lemeni, Dora Gatta - Coro e Orchestra della RAI Milano, Nino Sanzogno - ( Hardy Classics, 1956)
Boris Godunov (opera) Darius Milhaud Luigi Nono Frank Martin (composer) Theaterlexikon der Schweiz Integrated Authority File
383180
de