Anton van Rooy
“ ... noble, heart-rending pathos, deeply moving in its utterance of the agony of the soul which he bears ...” and the “ ... poignancy of the pain under which he suffers ... ”
One New York critic praised his portrayal of the suffering Amfortas
“…it was not until [van Rooy] was twenty-seven that he made his operatic début. This was at the direct instigation of Cosima Wagner; at the Bayreuth Festival of 1897 he sang Wotan in the Ring cycle and created a furor. He soon established himself as one of the greatest artists of his day and returned to Bayreuth regularly….”
Michael Scott, THE RECORD OF SINGING
Anton (Antoon) van Rooy - in full Antonius Maria Josephus - was born in Rotterdam on the 1st January 1870 and died in Munich on the 28th November 1932. He studied with the famous baritone and teacher Julyus Stockhausen who was himself a pupil of Manuel Garcia.
He started as oratorio and concert artist and was heard by Cosima Wagner who invited him to sing at Bayreuth, where he made his stage debut as Wotan in 1897. His commanding appearance and his beautiful upper register created an immediate impression. In Bayreuth Van Rooy sang Wotan (Der Ring) in 1897, 1899, 1901 and 1902. Hans Sachs (Die Meistersinger) in 1899 en Holländer (Der fliegende Holländer) in 1901. He made his debut at Covent Garden on the 11th May 1898 and sang there regularly until 1913.
He again chose Wotan in "Rheingold" for his first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera New York on the 14 december 1898, a role he sang fifty times during his nine seasons there until 1908. His appearances as Amfortas in the Met's 1903 Parsifal resulted in his being banned from further appearances in Bayreuth.
During 1902-03 at the Metropolitan, he sang Wolfram in Tannhäuser, Kurvenal in Tristan, all three Wotans, Telramund, and Sachs. For twenty-four performances he was paid $15,075.83. In addition to his Wagnerian roles, he also sang at the house Don Fernando in Fidelio, King Solomon in Die Königin von Saba, and Jokanaan in the American premiere of Salome.
Anton van Rooy as Wotan, Bayreuth
Anton van Rooy as Hans Sachs
His voice was one of tremendous power, beauty and authority and he was considered the finest exponent of such roles as Hans Sachs (Meistersinger), Holländer (Der fliegende Holländer), Wotan (Ring) and Kurvenal (Tristan und Isolde) during the first decade of this century. He was prodigal in the outpouring of his huge voice and this no doubt was the reason that by 1908, when he made his last records, he was showing signs of vocal wear.
His final appearance at Covent Garden in 1913 showed him in serious decline.
His 1902 recordings give some idea of him in his prime and are precious souvenirs. As P. G. Hurst wrote, "The dignity of his presence and the immense power of his voice, together with the majestic breadth of his interpretations, will long be remembered by those who heard him".
Wagners Walküre: "Wotans Abschied", recording 1902
| Discography (incomplete): | ||
| Titel, opera | Label, matrix | Rec. place/date |
| Tannhäuser, Der Sängerkrieg ... Blick ich umher | G&T 2-2715, mx 1947G | London, June 1902 |
| Tannhäuser, Als du in kühnem Sange ... | Gramo 042166, mx 2497f | London, June/July 1908 |
| Tannhäuser, Blick ich umher in diesem edlen Kreise | Gramo 042165, mx 2496f | London, June/July 1908 |
| Tannhäuser, Wie Todesahnung Dämm'rung deckt ... | Gramo 042167, mx 2498f | London, June/July 1908 |
| Tannhäuser, Wie Todesahnung ... | Edison cylinder, GM OBL | (?) |
| Fliegende Hollander, Nur eine Hoffnung soll mir ... | Edison cylinder B29, mx B29 | New York, March 1906 |
| Lohengrin, Viel lieber todt, als feig! | Mapleson cylinder, band 3 | New York, Febr. 1903 |
| Lohengrin, Gott richte mich nach Recht und Fug | Mapleson cylinder, band 4 | New York, Febr. 1903 |
| Lohengrin, Kerk scène, Vertraue mir! Lass dir ... | Mapleson cylinder, band 7 | New York, Febr. 1903 |
| Die Walküre, Dass jene sich lieben, leuchtet dir hell | Mapleson cylinder, band 4 | New York, Jan. 1903 |
| Die Walküre, Wer meines Speeres Spitze furchtet | Mapleson cylinder, band 10 | New York, Febr. 1902 |
| Meistersinger, Jerum!Jerum! Hallo-hallo-he! | G&T 2-2716, mx 1946G | London, June 1902 |
| Das Rheingold, Abendlicht strahlt der Sonne | Gramo 042168, mx 2499f | London, June/ July 1908 |
| Das Rheingold, finale, Abendlicht strahlt der Sonne | G&T 2-2701, mx 2010R | London, June 1902 |
| Das Rheingold, Vollendet das ewige Werk | G&T 2-2714 | London, June 1902 |
| Die Walküre, Leb' wohl du kühnes herrliches kind | G&T 2-2685, mx 1945G | London, June 1902 |
| Phyllis und die Mutter | Columbia A5000, mx 30097 | 1907 |
| Les Rameaux (The palms), Faurée | Columbia A5001, mx 30109 | 1907 |
| Die beiden Grenadiere, Schumann | Columbia A5015, 30029-1 | 1906, (1907?) |
| Das Muhlrad, volkslied | Columbia A5017, mx 30028 | 1906 |
| Das Mühlrad, volkslied | G&T 2-2700, mx 2012FG | London, June 1902 |
| Der Asra, Rubinstein | Columbia A5074, mx 30165 | 1908 |
| Am Meer, Schubert | Columbia A5074, mx 30164 | 1908 |
| Der Lindenbaum, Schubert | Columbia A5087, mx 30131 | 1908 |
| Wanderlied, Schumann | Columbia A5087, mx 30167 | 1908 |
The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes
Lohengrin, Telramund,
Band 3
Act I: Combat preparation excerpt: "Ist's Zauber, der mir angethan?" ... "Nun, König, ordne unsern Kampf!"
Georg Anthes (t), Lohengrin, Anton Van Rooy (b), Telramund
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--, Alfred Hertz, February 7, 1903
Band 4
Act I: King's Prayer excerpt : "Gott richte mich nach Recht und Fug!" ... "So hilf uns, [Gott, zu dieser Frist]"
Georg Anthes (t), Lohengrin, Anton Van Rooy (b), Telramund, Robert Blass (bs), King
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra--Alfred Hertz
Band 7
Act II: Minster Scene excerpts:
(a) "[El]sa, Elsa! wie seh' ich sie erbeben" ... "in deiner Treu' liegt alles [Glückes Pfand!]"
(b) "Mein Held, in dem ich muss vergehn!" ... "Heil dir, [Tugendreiche]"
(c) "[Heil] dir, Heil Elsa von Brabant" ...to end of act
Johanna Gadski (s), Elsa, Georg Anthes (t), Lohengrin, Anton Van Rooy (b), Telramund
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orchestra--Alfred Hertz
February 7, 1903
Die Walküre, Wotan
Band 4
Act II: Brünnhilde's Battle Cry and Wotan-Fricka scene excerpts :
(a) "[Hojotoho!] hojotoho! heiaha!" ... "hojoho!"
(b) "lieb ich auch muthiger Männer Schlacht" ... "heiaha ha!"
(c) "[soll süsse Lust] deinen Segen dir lohnen" ... "So ist es denn aus"
Lillian Nordica (s), Brünnhilde, Ernestine Schumann-Heink (a), Fricka, Anton Van Rooy (b), Wotan
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra--Alfred Hertz
January 16, 1903 (?)
Band 10
Act III: Magic Fire Music excerpt : "durchschreite das Feuer nie"...almost to end of opera
Anton Van Rooy (b), Wotan, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra--, Walter Damrosch
February 11 or February 27 (matinee). 1902
[Glackens 3: "Van Rooy probably...Feb. 1902." Van Rooy sang all three Wotans that season; these are the two February dates.] February 7, 1903
Sources, o.a.:
De zangkunst en haare sterren, Anton Averkamp
Geheel in de geest van Wagner, Henk Suèr en Josine Meurs
Gustav Mahler, Erinnerungen und Briefe, Alma Mahler
Unvergängliche Stimmen, Kutsch/ Riemens
The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes
