Felix Günther





Austrian pianist, composer, arranger and conductor (* 02 December 1886 in Trautenau, Bohemia, Austro-Hungary, now Trutnov, Czech Republic; † 06 May 1951 in New York City, New York, USA).
He studied in Vienna and Berlin and was later a professor at the Humboldt Hochschule in Berlin. He worked in the German film industry in the 1920s and 1930s. He conducted the film orchestra for several productions of the UFA (Universum-Film AG) in Berlin. He arranged and supervised the musical scores of specific music for films and songs.
Günther was also active as a free lancer in broadcasting, the modern medium of those days. These activities more or less stopped from 1933 on, the year the Nazis came to power. Before that he had conducted the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester) when making recordings for the Polydor label (Deutsche Grammophon) and other labels like Parlophon and Homocord, already in the 1920s, well before the electrical recording process was introduced.

As a pianist and as a conductor he accompanied various singers like Gitta Alpar (soprano), Ria Ginster (soprano), Lotte Schöne (soprano),
Friedrich Brodersen (baritone), Martin Abendroth (bass), Heinrich Schlusnus (baritone). He made a recording with violinist Grete Eweler for the Homocord label. He also was the pianist in the recording of Schubert's Forellen Quintet (Trout) with the Nikolas Lambinon Artist Quartet originally known as Nicolas Lambinon Künstler-Quartett. In that recording he played a grand piano of the German piano maker Schwechten.

Felix Günther is best known as the conductor who accompanied the popular, Jewish singer Joseph Schmidt. The name of Felix Günther is hardly ever mentioned on the covers and labels of the recordings of Joseph Schmidt. Schmidt performed in Carnegie Hall in 1937, but returned to Germany to join his relatives. Via Holland, where he was very popular and where he gave a last recital in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, he fled to Switzerland where he was interned in a refugee camp. But fate was far from kind. Joseph Schmidt became ill and died there in 1942.

Felix Günther however - already in his fifties - did not hesitate to flee from Germany. He too went to the US in 1937. Right from the day he arrived in the US, he was active in the New York music scene. He wrote arrangements and compiled these for various publications.

Felix Guenther was very active in the New York music scene. He gave various lectures at gatherings organized by the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. Several years after the war had ended he then returned to Europe on the request of Don Gabor.

ALBUMS


Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Vienna State Opera Orchestra* Conducted By Felix Prohaska / Vienna Symphony Orchestra* Conducted By Felix Guenther*
Concerto For Orchestra / Symphony No. 1 In D & Symphony No. 3 In C
1965, LP, Album, Vanguard Everyman Classics
Brahms*, Louis Stevens (2), Dr. Felix Guenther* Conducting The Berlin Symphony Orchestra
Violin Concerto In D Major Opus 77
1957
Tschaikowsky*, Louis Stevens (2), Berlin Symphony Orchestra*, Dr. Felix Guenther*
Violin Concerto in D Major, Opus 35
1956, LP, Halo
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Orchestre Du Festival De Salszbourg*, Orchestre Symphonique Autrichien*, Fritz Weidlich, Felix Günther
Sérénade En Sol Majeur N °13, K. 525 : Petite Musique De Nuit
1956
Johann Christian Bach / Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - Vienna Symphony Orchestra* Conducted by Dr. Felix Guenther*
Sinfonia Concertante / Symphony No. 1 In D - Symphony No. 3 In C
1953
Mozart*, Carlo Vidusso, Arthur Sanford, Rome Symphony Orchestra* Conducted By Dr. Felix Guenther*
Piano Concerto No. 12 / Two-Piano Concerto
1952, LP, Mono, Royale
The Austrian Symphony Orchestra*, Kurt Wöss / Felix Günther
Viennese Waltzes
1952, LP, Mono, Remington, Remington, ,
Romantic
The Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Ludwig van Beethoven, Dr. Felix Guenther*
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Opus 36
1952, LP, Royale
Sibelius*, Strauss*, Bach* - Berlin Symphony Orchestra* Conducted By Karl List, Gerd Rubahn, Dr. Felix Günther*
Finlandia Opus 26 No. 7 Symphonic Poem / Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche / Brandenburg Concerto No 4 In G Major
1952
Sibelius*, Mozart*, Austrian Symphony Orchestra*, Kurt Wöss , Conductor Felix Guenther*
Finlandia Op. 27 / Thamos, Konig In Aegypten K.345
1951, 10", Remington
Mendelssohn* - Carlo Vidusso, Rome Symphony Orchestra* Conducted By Dr. Felix Guenther*
Concerto No. 1 In G Minor / Midsummer Night's Dream
1951, LP, Mono, Royale
Ludwig van Beethoven - Rome Symphony Orchestra* Conducted By Dr. Felix Guenther*
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67
1951
Schubert*, Felix Günther, Rome Symphony Orchestra
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor
1951, Vinyl, ,
Romantic
Mozart* - Kurt Wöss - Austrian Symphony Orchestra* - Felix Günther
Mozart Sinfonia Concertante In E Flat
1951
Felix Günther
Sing-Along
1949
Chor Der Berliner Staatsoper*, Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester (2), Dr. Felix Günther*
Der Vogelhändler / Die Fledermaus
1929, Shellac, 12", Homocord
Dr. Felix Günther*
Orpheus In Der Unterwelt
1929, Shellac, 12", Homocord
Mozart*, Ria Ginster, Dr. F. Günther*
Et Incarnatus Est / Alleluja
Shellac, 12", Decca
Joseph Schmidt, Dr. Felix Günther*
Impatient / Serenade

APPEARANCES +


Maurice Ravel • Igor Stravinsky • Kurt Weill • Victor De Sabata – Stefano Bollani • Gewandhausorchester* • Riccardo Chailly
Sounds Of The 30s
2012, CD, ,
Impressionist/Modern
Various
Verstummte Stimmen
2006, 4xCD, Comp, Mono, Documents, ,
Baroque/Classical/Romantic/Modern
Various
Viennese Operetta Gems
2003, CD, Comp, Naxos Historical, ,
Romantic/Modern/Operetta
Joseph Schmidt
Opera Arias
1999, CD, Comp, BelAge, ,
Opera/Romantic/Classical
Various
Komm' In Meine Welt - Die Legende Von Jim Reeves (Jim Reeves Hits In Deutsch)
1998, CD, Comp, Bear Family Records, ,
Country/Schlager
Various
Es Wird Nicht Untergehen. Jüdisch-Liturgische Gesänge Aus Berlin
1996, CD, Album, Edition BARBArossa, ,
Religious
Franz Lehár
Paganini
1995, 2xCD, Album, BelAge
Joseph Schmidt, Peter Anders (2), Richard Tauber
Meistertenöre
1992, CD, Comp, LaserLight Digital
Joseph Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt
1988, CD, Comp, Mono, EMI, Angel Records, ,
Opera/Romantic/Vocal
Joseph Schmidt
The Art Of Joseph Schmidt
1987, 2x Vinyl, ,
Opera/Operetta
Various
Das Goldene Operetten Archiv • 55
1985, LP, Comp, Marcato,
Joseph Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt Zingt
1975, LP, Comp, His Master's Voice, ,
Vocal/Schlager
Joseph Schmidt
The Art Of Joseph Schmidt (The Legendary Tenor In Opera And Song)
1970
Lotte Schone*
Self-Titled
1967, LP, Comp, Rococo Records (5)
Morton Gould And His Orchestra
Jungle Drums/More Jungle Drums
1966, 8-Trk, Album, Twi, RCA Victor Red Seal
Andre Y Su Conjunto
Siempre Para Ti
1964, ,
Mambo/Cha-Cha/Easy Listening/Tango
Josef Schmidt*
Récital Josef Schmidt
1961, LP, Album, Comp, Mono, Odeon, ,
Opera/Canzone Napoletana
Morton Gould And His Orchestra
Jungle Drums
1956
Jerry Murad's Harmonicats
Harmonicats' Selected Favorites
1955
Berlin Symphony Orchestra*
Another Hour Of Tschaikowsky Popular Melodies
1952, LP, Royale
Saint-Saens*, Carlo Vidusso
Piano Concerto N.2 In G Minor Opus 22
1952, LP, Royale, ,
Romantic
Mozart* - Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra*, Vienna Tonkuenstler Symphony Orchestra*
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik / Thamos - Konig In Aegypten
1952
Jan August
Clair De Lune / Scheherezade
1950, Vinyl,
Richard Crooks
Richard Crooks In Song
1946, 5xShellac, 10", Album, RP, RCA Victor Red Seal, ,
Vocal/Opera/Baroque/Classical/Romantic
Joseph Schmidt
Impatient / Serenade
1944
Pinza*
Italian Songs Of The 17th & 18th Centuries
1940, 3x Shellac, ,
Renaissance/Baroque/Classical/Opera
Joseph Schmidt Mit Parlophon-Orchester
Ein Stern Fällt Vom Himmel / Mandulinata Di Napoli
1934
Henny Porten
In Oberammergau, Da Blüht Der Flieder / Ich Möchte Ein Bild Von Dir Auf Meinen Herzen Tragen
1930, Shellac, 10", Odeon
Hans Heinz Bollmann
Friederike
1929, Shellac, 12", Homocord
Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester
Ouvertüre Zu Operette "Wiener Frauen"
1928, Shellac, 12", Homocord
Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester
Rigoletto
1928, Shellac, 12", Homocord
Manfred Lewandowski
Der Wanderer / Du Bist Die Ruh'!
1928, Shellac, 12", "Fe, Homocord, ,
Romantic
Manfred Lewandowski
Kol Nidrei / Kaddisch
1927, Shellac, 12", "Fe, Homocord
Joseph Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt · IX
7", EP, Mono, Odeon, Odeon,
Karl Tannert
O Solo Mio / Heimweh
Shellac, 10", Homokord
Joseph Schmidt
Ein Lied Geht Um Die Welt
2xLP, Album, Comp, His Master's Voice, EMI, ,
Operetta
Robert Pollak
Alt-Wiener Lieder
Shellac, 10", Homocord
Emil Schipper
Emil Schipper III
LP, Comp, Mono, Lebendige Vergangenheit, ,
Opera/Romantic
Joseph Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt · X
7", EP, Odeon
Kammer-Orchester Dajos Béla
La Lettre De Manon / Babillage
Shellac, 12", Odeon, Odeon
Various
Lehár Digiriert Léhar (Ein Melodienreigen Aus Seinen Unsterblichen Oeretten)
2xLP, Comp, EMI Electrola, Dacapo (2)
Ria Ginster
Ria Ginster
LP, Lebendige Vergangenheit
Friedrich Brodersen
Friedrich Broderson
LP, Album, Comp, Lebendige Vergangenheit, ,
Opera/Romantic
Various
Forbidden But Not Forgotten = Verboten, Verfolgt, Aber Nicht Vergessen (Forbidden Music During The Third Reich)
10xCD + Box, Comp, The Intense Media, Documents, ,
Music Hall/Musical/Operetta/Opera/Modern
Gitta Alpar
Gitta Alpar
LP, Comp, Mono, Lebendige Vergangenheit, ,
Opera/Romantic/Classical
Gitta Alpar
Once In A Lifetime
LP, Comp, Mono, Rayco Records (2), ,
Opera/Romantic/Operetta/Vocal/Light Music
Manfred Lewandowski
Mein Lust Ist Leben! / Wo Du Hingehst...
Shellac, 12", Homocord
Gitta Alpar
Gitta Alpar
LP, Comp, Mono, Rococo Records (5)
Lotte Schöne
The Complete Lotte Schöne
5xCD, Comp, Marston
Joseph Schmidt
Ein Stern Fällt Vom Himmel / Mandulinata Di Napoli
Shellac, 10", Odeon, ,
Vocal/Soundtrack
Berliner Sinfonie Orchester
Another Hour Of Tschaikowsky
LP, Mono, Royale
Grete Eweler
Liebesfreud / Liebesleid
Shellac, 10", Homocord
Joseph Schmidt
Una Furtiva Lagrima / Wenn Beim Wein Ein Walzer Klingt
Shellac, 10", Odeon
Joseph Schmidt
Tarantella Sincera / Una Furtiva Lagrima
George Rasely, Mardi Bryant
Sing-Along
Formația Karpaten-Show
Formația Karpaten-Show
Joseph Schmidt Mit Salon-Orchester Fritz Brunner
O Sole Mio / La Paloma
Joseph Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt VI
,
Classical/Operetta
Joseph Schmidt
Heut' Ist Der Schönste Tag In Meinem Leben
Joseph Schmidt
Joseph Schmidt - VIII
Joseph Schmidt
Ein Stern Fällt...
Vinyl,
Joseph Schmidt
Heut' Ist Der Schönste Tag In Meinem Leben
,
Operetta/Opera/Soundtrack/Theme
Beethoven*, Symphony Orchestra Of Rome
Symphony Hall. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op. 67
Joseph Schmidt
Die Großen Filmerfolge
,
Opera
Joseph Schmidt
Ein Lied Ging Um Die Welt
2x Vinyl, ,
Opera
Joseph Schmidt
O Sole Mio / La Paloma
Joseph Schmidt
History Records - Classical Edition 96 - Joseph Schmidt I
2012, 21xFile, MP3, Comp, RM, History-Records, ,
Opera/Romantic
Joseph Schmidt
History Records - Classical Edition 97 - Joseph Schmidt II
2012, 22xFile, MP3, Comp, RM, History-Records,
Various
Das Beste Aus 100 Jahren
Box, Comp, Mono + 6xLP, Comp, Mono, Das Beste Reader's Digest, ,
Light Music/Public Service Announcement/Political/Public Broadcast/Vocal/Opera/Operetta