Ludwig Schnorr Von Carolsfeld German opera singer, heldentenor Date of Birth: 02.07.1836 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld
2. Early Life and Education
3. Career and Marriage
4. Collaboration with Richard Wagner
5. Premiere of "Tristan und Isolde" and Tragic Death
6. Life After Ludwig's Death

Biography of Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld

Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld was a German opera singer, heldentenor, and renowned interpreter of Wagnerian roles. He was the first performer of the role of Tristan in Richard Wagner's opera "Tristan und Isolde." Unfortunately, his promising career was cut short by a serious illness, and he passed away at the age of 29, after just four performances as Tristan.

Early Life and Education

Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld was born on July 2, 1836 in Munich, Germany, into a family of notable Saxon artists. His father, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, was a famous painter. As a young boy, Ludwig studied at the prestigious Kreuzschule in Dresden, known for its renowned boys' choir, the Dresdner Kreuzchor. It is possible that his education and involvement in the choir influenced his decision to pursue singing instead of becoming a professional artist. After completing his education at the Kreuzschule, Ludwig continued his studies at the Leipzig Conservatory and made his debut in 1858 in Karlsruhe.

Career and Marriage

By 1860, von Carolsfeld was also performing at the Semperoper in Dresden and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, singing in works such as Bellini's "Norma" and Weber's "Der Freischütz." He soon gained recognition as a skilled and experienced singer with a powerful voice, particularly suited for dramatic and heroic roles in the works of Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi. In 1860, Ludwig Schnorr married Malvina Garrigues, a Danish soprano who was ten years older than him. Malvina supported her husband's increasingly promising career and reduced her own stage performances.

Collaboration with Richard Wagner

In 1861, von Carolsfeld sang the role of Lohengrin in the presence of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was rumored that this performance was one of a series of opera performances that turned the king into an ardent fan of Wagner and his music. The following year, Ludwig and his wife met Wagner himself in Biebrich, near Wiesbaden, and Wagner asked them to sing excerpts from his new opera "Tristan und Isolde" while he accompanied them on the piano. Apparently, the renowned composer was highly impressed by the results of their collaboration.

Premiere of "Tristan und Isolde" and Tragic Death

An attempt to stage the premiere of the new opera in Vienna failed, despite more than 70 rehearsals, largely because the local leading tenor could not handle the extremely challenging role of Tristan. At Wagner's personal request, the roles of Tristan and Isolde were offered to Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld and his wife, and King Ludwig II of Bavaria financed a new attempt to stage the opera. The premiere took place in Munich on June 10, 1865, but received mixed reviews, with some critics calling it "indecent." On July 21, 1865, just six weeks after the premiere and after only four performances in "Tristan und Isolde," Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld passed away in Dresden, just 19 days after his 29th birthday. His untimely death made him a legend, and rumors spread that the exertion demanded by Wagner's opera had caused his demise. In reality, a cold combined with rheumatic complications led to a stroke, from which the overweight singer could not recover.

Life After Ludwig's Death

After her husband's death, Malvina Garrigues could not bring herself to continue performing and left the stage.