Rudolf Ritter

1878–1966

Picture of Rudolf Ritter as Primus Thaller in Kienzl's Der Kuhreigen
Rudolf Ritter as Primus Thaller in Kienzl's Kuhreigen. Ritter created the role in the 1911 world premiere at the Vienna Volksoper. He has identified the role beneath his autograph and dated the photograph 1912.

Picture of Rudolf Ritter as Siegfried

Picture of Rudolf Ritter

Rudolf Ritter was born on 19 January 1878 in Brno/Brünn. He served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian army from 1898 to 1908. Then he studied singing at the Vienna conservatory and made his debut in 1910 at the Vienna Volksoper, where he sang up to 1913. There, he took part in the world premiere of the opera "Der Kuhreigen" by Kienzl. In 1913, he became a member of the Staatsoper Stuttgart, where he stayed for good. During 1923/24 and 1929–31 with the German Opera Company, Ritter sang in North America, where in 1924 he participated in the US premiere of "Der Evangelimann". Ritter retired in 1933, teaching voice in Stuttgart, where he died on 3 June 1966. He recorded for Vox, Odeon and Polydor.

In his early years at the Volksoper, he was primarily an operetta tenor; later on, he sang heldentenor roles only, and mostly Wagner.

Rudolf Ritter sings Die Walküre: Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond

Rudolf Ritter sings Tannhäuser: Inbrunst im Herzen
In RA format

I wish to thank Vladimir Efimenko for the recording (Tannhäuser) and two pictures.

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