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Aksel Schiotz 1906 - 1975<br />
Aksel Schiotz was bom in Roskilde, Denmark,<br />
1906. M.A. in modem languages after studies at<br />
the University of Copenhagen I 924 30. Maried to<br />
Gerd Haugsted I 93 | .<br />
Aksel Schiotz had a fine mezzo tenor voice<br />
which he loved to display, at parties or in church.<br />
Mogens Wtildike, the choral conductor, made him<br />
a tenor member of the Copenhagen Boys' and<br />
Male Choir. and he was entrusted with oratorio<br />
solos. Schi6tz's first song recital was in 1936.<br />
In 1938 Aksel Schiptz was discovered by His<br />
Master's Voice. London. The much admired<br />
recorded legacy is revived in this CD series.<br />
On April 9th, 1940, Denmark was seized by<br />
Hitler An intemational career in Lied and oratorio<br />
must be postponed. However, the records had made<br />
a reputation for SchiOtz in Denmark. He became<br />
the best loved classical singer ever, equally popular<br />
with high and low. He appeared in opera and<br />
operetta, and had recitals all over the country at full<br />
houses. With his artistry he made a tine contribution<br />
to that democratic and moral stand called for<br />
by the tinres.<br />
After the war the old ties with British musical<br />
lif'e were succesfully taken up. With Gerald Moore<br />
Schi@tz recorded "Die schijne Miillerin" and<br />
"Dichterliebe", and he appeared in the first<br />
perfbmances of Britten's 'The Rape of Lucretia"<br />
at Glyndebourne.<br />
Aksel Schiptz survived a tumor acusticus<br />
operation in 1946. but halfhis face was left lame.<br />
Could he ever sing again? Common sense said no.<br />
But. contrary to all reason, Aksel Schigtz<br />
succeeded by sheer will-power to fight his way to a<br />
come-back recital in I 948, a moving event.<br />
The sheen of the voice had gone. As a singer.<br />
now a baritone, he was perhaps now best<br />
appreciated by musicians and connaisseurs -<br />
Casals, Pears. Sascha Schneider among them<br />
who rated artistic truth before original beauty.<br />
In I 955 Aksel Schiotz enters a new career,<br />
lhal of professor in an song. at universities in<br />
Minnesota, in Toronto ( I 958-60). and in Colorado<br />
( 1960-68). Master classes are held all over North<br />
America. conlributing to his reputation as a<br />
teacher<br />
A job as professor in Copenhagen is off'ered<br />
to Aksel Schiotz in 1968. Though Aksel Schiorz is<br />
pleased by the calling, it tums out that Denmark<br />
does not know how to make good use of his artistic<br />
and educational potential.<br />
Aksel Schiotz dies in 1975.
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