Günter Wewel

Günter Wewel (German: [ˈɡʏntɐ ˈveːvl̩]; 29 November 1934 – 9 May 2023) was a German operatic bass and television presenter. Based at the Opernhaus Dortmund for decades, he performed 80 roles in Germany and Europe. He is known for presenting the television series Kein schöner Land, with more than 150 episodes from 1989 to 2007, which portrays regions in Europe, their landscape, people and folklore, the first such show filmed at the locations.

Günter Wewel
Born(1934-11-29)29 November 1934
Arnsberg, Gau Westphalia-South, German Reich
Died9 May 2023(2023-05-09) (aged 88)
Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
EducationDortmund Conservatory
Occupations
Organisations
Known forKein schöner Land
TitleKammersänger
Awards
Websitewww.guenter-wewel.de

Early life

Wewel was born in Arnsberg. After school, he first trained as a civil servant with the Deutsche Bundesbahn.[1][2][3] He then studied voice, especially opera, at the Dortmund Conservatory. He studied further with Rudolf Watzke in Dortmund and Johannes Kobeck in Vienna.[1]

Career
Opernhaus Dortmund
Wewel's residence in Arnsberg

Wewel was a member of the Oper Dortmund from 1963, with Generalmusikdirektor Wilhelm Schüchter, and remained at the house throughout his career[1] of more than 30 years.[4] From 1965, he appeared as a guest in Germany at the Bavarian State Opera, the Hamburg State Opera, the Staatstheater Stuttgart, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Cologne Opera and Staatstheater Hannover, among others. In Europe, he performed at the Budapest National Opera, in Paris, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Rouen, Salzburg and the Opernhaus Zürich.[1][2]

Wewel performed over 80 roles, including Mozart's Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, the Komtur in Don Giovanni and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Rocco in Beethoven's Fidelio", Philipp II in Verdi's Don Carlo, Gremin in Tchaikovsky's Eugen Onegin, Wagner's Daland in Der fliegende Holländer, Heinrich in Lohengrin, Marke in Tristan und Isolde and Titurel in Parsifal. He also performed in operettas. In the mid-1980s, he performed as Landgrave Hermann in a complete recording of Wagner's Tannhäuser from the Theater Saarbrücken.[1] In 1989, he was awarded the title Kammersänger.[5]

From 1989 to 2007, Wewel was the presenter of the musical entertainment television programme Kein schöner Land.[1][5][6] The series ran at irregular intervals, with more than 150 episodes in total, and was produced by Saarländischer Rundfunk. Wewel took his guests to different regions of Europe and presented people, landscapes and customs. The musical part of the programme ranged from folklore typical for the region to hits, folk music and light classical music, to which Wewel often contributed songs.[5][6] It was the first music programme on television filmed at the original locations and not in the studio.[3][6]

In addition to his opera work, he also recorded numerous Volkslieder.[3]

Personal life and death

He was married to Gisela Wewel from 1959; she died on 20 September 2014 at age 76.[5]

Wewel died on 9 May 2023, at age 88.[3][4]

Honours

Recordings

Hits

Source:[9]

  • 1979: "Ihr mögt den Rhein" (Westfalenlied)
  • 1987: "Alle Tage ist kein Sonntag"
  • 1987: "Müde kehrt ein Wandersmann zurück"
  • 1992: "Die wilde Jagd"
  • 1994: "Es dunkelt schon in der Heide"
  • 1998: "Auf auf, zum fröhlichen Jagen"

Albums

Source:[2]

Opera

Operetta

Wewel recorded some complete operettas, and excerpts conducted by Heinz Wallberg and Willi Boskovsky, alongside soprano Anneliese Rothenberger and baritone Hermann Prey, among others.[11][12]

Songs
  • 1980: Wo man Bier trinkt – Songs for cheerful drinking culture
  • 1989: Ein russisches Märchen – Die schönsten russischen Volkslieder
  • 1994: Kein schöner Land
  • 1998: Jagd- und Waldlieder
  • Wer die Heimat liebt – Die schönsten Heimatlieder Deutschlands

References
  1. Kutsch, K. J.; Riemens, Leo (2012). Wewel, Günter. ISBN 978-3-59-844088-5. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. Nowotny, Walter (1 November 2019). "Geburtstage im November 2019 / 29.11. Günter Wewel wird 85". Online Merker (in German). Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. "Volkslieder für Millionen: Kammersänger Günter Wewel ist tot". TZ. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. "Volksliedinterpret und Moderator Günter Wewel gestorben". FAZ (in German). dpa. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  5. Dame, Florentine (29 November 2019). "Promi-Geburtstag vom 29. November 2019: Günter Wewel". volksstimme.de (in German). Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  6. "Günter Wewel schimpft auf aktuelle Fernsehunterhaltung". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 28 November 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  7. "Kammersänger Günter Wewel – Die Bassstimme aus dem Sauerland". Woll-Magazin Sauerland (in German). 22 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. "Glückwunsch Günter Wewel!". SR.de (in German). 21 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020..
  9. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Günter Wewel". hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  10. Musiques maçonniques Muziekweb 2023
  11. Günter Wewel Muziekweb 2023
  12. Franz von Suppé: Boccaccio Bertelsmann
  13. Sheppard, John: Jacques Offenbach Pariser Leben (La Vie Parisienne) musicweb-international.com October 2014
  14. Lace, Ian: Franz Lehár (1870–1948) / Giuditta musicweb-international.com November 2013
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