Staudigl (I), Joseph

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Staudigl (I), Joseph

Staudigl (I), Joseph, distinguished Austrian bass, father of Joseph Staudigl (II) ; b. Wöllersdorf, April 14, 1807; d. Michaelbeueangrund, near Vienna, March 28, 1861. He was admitted in 1816 to the Wiener Neustadt Gymnasium, where he made his mark as a boy soprano; after studying at the Krems philosophical college (1823–25), he entered the Melk monastery to commence his novitiate; then went to Vienna as a medical student i n 1827, but lack of funds soon compelled him to join the chorus of the Kärnthnertortheater. He subsequently sang minor roles before assuming a position as its principal bass; was a member of the Theater an der Wien (1845–48) and the Court Opera (1848–54); appeared at London’s Drury Lane (1841), Covent Garden (1842), and Her Majesty’s Theatre (1847). He also had a notable career as an oratorio and concert singer, both at home and abroad; sang Elijah in the premiere of Mendelssohn’s oratorio (1846). He died insane.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire