Karl Scheidemantel by Hanfstaengl

Karl Scheidemantel as Alfio "Cavaleria Rusticana" Mascagni

KARL SCHEIDEMANTEL
(29 January 1859 – 26 June 1923)
German baritone
His supporters were Bodo Borchers in Weimar, well known voice teacher Julius Stockhausen in Frankfurt, and composer Franz Liszt. At the age of 25 he joined the ensemble of the Dresden Hofoper where he was named Kammersänger, "Chamber Singer to the Saxon Grand Duke" in 1884. He sang at the 1886, 1888, 1891, and 1892 Bayreuth festivals. He sang at most of the great European opera houses, especially the Vienna State Opera, where in April and May 1890 he sang the roles of Heiling, Renato, Zampa, Wolfram, Luna and, Sachs. He was a guest singer at La Scala in 1892. His final career appearance was on 8 June 1911 as Hans Sachs. Scheidemantel sang over 170 roles in his career. Notably, he created the role of Herr von Faninal in Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier in 1911.