William Ludwig (singer)
| William Ludwig | |
|---|---|
| Born |
William Ledwidge 15 July 1847 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 25 December 1923 (aged 76) London, UK |
| Occupation | Opera and concert singer (baritone) |
| Years active | 1874–1908 |
William Ludwig (born William Ledwidge) (15 July 1847 – 25 December 1923) was an Irish operatic baritone who rose to fame in the second half of the nineteenth century. He was famous as an interpreter of Wagner, becoming in Britain and the United States the definitive Dutchman. He later became an equally famous concert artist. His most active period was from 1874 to 1908.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, his father was a chorister, music teacher and music copyist. He was educated at the National Schools, Marlborough Street, where he received musical instruction from John W. Glover. He attended O’Connell Schools in North Richmond Street and often sang in the monastery chapel. He came under the influence of Brother Swan and later entered a solicitor's office. He sang for a time in the choir of St. Paul's Church, Arran Quay, with Mr. J. J. Fagan, his life-long friend. His first lessons were from Richard Vincent O'Brien (father of Vincent O'Brien). He sang in University Church where Alban Croft was the organist and where he met Signor Cellini who gave him lessons. After singing in various Dublin choirs he moved to London before 1870.
He sang in the Gaiety Theatre, the Strand, under the management of John Hollingshead. It was during this period that he changed his name to Ludwig. This may have been because of frequent misspellings or because a more Germanic named suited the life of an opera singer.
By 1874 he had joined the Carl Rosa Opera Company. Ludwig was to maintain a relationship with this company for the rest of his singing career. It was during his time with Carl Rosa that he came under the influence of Charles Santley. In 1877 he became chief baritone with Carl Rosa. He made his name in such famous Wagner roles as Wotan in the Ring cycle, Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger and as the Dutchman in the Flying Dutchman. In Britain this part was often referred to as Vanderdacken, though Wagner never used that name. In 1883 he sang in Il Trovatore in the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. A prototype telephone carried the performance to Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, half a mile away, where an astonished audience was able to hear the singers and orchestra. He sang Claude Frollo in Goring Thomas's Esmeralda at Drury lane in 1883 and took part in the first performance of Mackenzie's Colomba (5 April 1883). He was also justly famous for his oratorio and concert singing. He was perhaps the greatest Vanderdecken of his day. Wagner is said to have given him a score of "The Flying Dutchman," inscribed: "To the incomparable Vanderdeken". However, Wagner referred to the title role as "the Dutchman" and not Vanderdecken, but in English productions the title role was always referred to as Vanderdecken or even Van Der Decken. Wagner was in London when Ludwig was singing with Carl Rosa, but definite evidence of their meeting has proved elusive.
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