# Robert Leonhardt

Robert Leonhardt (December 27, 1872 – February 2, 1923) was an Austrian operatic baritone who sang several notable roles with the New York Metropolitan Opera between 1913 and 1922. He made numerous recordings for major record labels, both in Europe and in the United States.

## Biography

Leonhardt was born in 1872 in Linz. His operatic debut was in 1898, in Linz. For four years he found permanent employment at the German Theatre in Prague starting in 1905. Specializing in Wagnerian roles, he sang in Brno from 1909 to 1911, and from 1911 until 1913 with the Vienna Volksoper while also guesting with the Vienna Imperial Opera in 1909 and the Berlin Gura Summer Opera in 1910. In October 1913 it was announced that Leonhardt had joined the New York Metropolitan opera. Sailing from Bremen, he endured a difficult voyage before arriving in the U.S. on November 6. He first appeared on stage for his new employer in December in the role of Peter in Engelbert Humperdinck's opera Hänsel und Gretel. Receiving critical acclaim for his work in this role, he would appear in Met productions over the course of the next nine years. He was expected to appear in an expanded role at the met, but world circumstances would prevent this. Beginning in December 1917 he billed himself as "Robert Leonard" to distance himself from his Germanic heritage. Nevertheless, Leonhardt, a citizen of Austria, was dropped by the New York Met in April 1918 because of his status as an enemy alien despite continued critical praise. The opera's manager, Mr. Gatti, expressed his regret at having to make such a move. Leonhardt's wife and children resided in Vienna for the duration of the war. After the war his employment recommenced with the Met and he was performing on stage again as of November 1920. Here he continued to perform until shortly before his death. He developed an illness that lasted for some time, and never recovered. Robert Leonhardt died at St. Mark's Hospital in New York City on February 2, 1923.

## Performance style

Reviews of Leonhardt's performances are wide-ranging. He has been noted for a "dark, steely, throaty bass" with mundane performance, although this is perhaps due to Leonhardt being out of his voice's comfort zone regarding range. Conversely, he was noted for having a "luscious and lovely Italian voice" with a splendid, spontaneous sense of humor.

## Operatic roles
### United States

| Year | Company | Opera | Role | Notes |
| 1910 | Gura Summer Opera | Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg | Beckmesser | |
| 1910 | Gura Summer Opera | Der Ring des Nibelungen | Alberich | |
| 1913 | New York Met | Hänsel und Gretel | Peter | debut with the New York Met |
| 1914 | Boston Opera Company | Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg | Beckmesser | |
| 1914 | New York Met | Königskinder | Innkeeper | |
| 1914 | New York Met | Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg | Nachtigall | |
| 1914 | New York Met | Der Rosenkavalier | Faninal | |
| 1914 | New York Met | L'Amore Medico | Macroton | U.S. Premier |
| 1914 | New York Met | Die Zauberflöte | Papageno | |
| 1914 | New York Met | La Bohème | Benoit | |
| 1914 | New York Met | Tosca | Sacristan | |
| 1915 | New York Met | Carmen | Dancaïre | |
| 1915 | New York Met | Madame Sans-Gêne | Leroy | World Premiere |
| 1915 | New York Met | Fidelio | Second Prisoner | |
| 1915 | New York Met | Siegfried | Alberich | |
| 1915 | New York Met | La Bohème | Alcindoro | |
| 1915 | New York Met | Manon | Innkeeper | |
| 1916 | New York Met | The Taming of the Shrew | Hortensio | |
| 1916 | New York Met | Iphigénie en Tauride | Temple Attendant | U.S. Premiere |
| 1916 | New York Met | Lohengrin | Herald | |
| 1917 | New York Met | Le Nozze di Figaro | Antonio | |
| 1917 | New York Met | The Canterbury Pilgrims | The Knight, Man of Law | World Premiere |
| 1917 | New York Met | Tristan und Isolde | Melot | |
| 1917 | New York Met | Mârouf | Ahmad (Pastry Cook) | U.S. Premiere |
| 1918 | New York Met | Saint Elisabeth (Liszt) | Steward | |
| 1918 | New York Met | Le Prophète | Anabaptist | |
| 1920 | New York Met | La Juive | Ruggiero | |
| 1920 | New York Met | Parsifal | Amfortas | |
| 1921 | New York Met | Louise | Philosopher | |
| 1921 | New York Met | Andrea Chénier | Fouquier Tinville | |
| 1921 | New York Met | The Polish Jew | Judge Schmitt | U.S. Premiere |
| 1921 | New York Met | Die tote Stadt | Frank | U.S. Premiere |
| 1922 | New York Met | Le roi d'Ys | St. Corentin | |
| 1922 | New York Met | Boris Godunov | Shchelkalov | |

## Recordings

Leonhardt's career are a recording artist may be more important than his performing career. He recorded many popular songs, as well as operatic arias. His recording career began in 1900 for the Gramophone Company, recording prolifically for them through 1905. Many of these recordings were issued in the Standard German Catalogue. Several European recordings also appeared on the International Zonophone and Homokord labels. From 1903 to 1905 he also made records for the European Columbia branch. He recorded cylinders for the Edison company before coming to the United States, and these were marketed in the U.S. to the German-speaking population. After changing his residency to the United States, he continued his recording career with Columbia Records from 1915 through 1920. Although promoted as from the "Metropolitan Opeara Co.", not all of his recordings were operatic and like the Edison cylinders, his records were marketed to German-speaking Americans, in their E-prefix ethnic catalog, and not to the general public. An exception is Record #A2053, to which the prestigious tri-color banner label was applied. This record was released in 1916, and an announcement was made in the English-speaking trade press, but no other records by Leonhardt appeared in this series. His final recordings were made for Victor in 1921 and 1922, also released in their ethnic series. Collectors of operatic recordings were instructed to seek out these ethnic selections of Leonhardt's.

### Discography

(incomplete)
Note: All Columbia listings are U.S. releases.
| Label | Catalog # | Title | Format | Year | Notes |
| Gramophone | 42609 | Stell' auf den Tisch | 78 rpm | 1900 | |
| Gramophone | 42322 | Carmen: Toreador (Georges Bizet) | 78 rpm | February 1900 | matrix 641A |
| Gramophone | 42349 | Bonn (August Bungert) | 78 rpm | 1901 | |
| Gramophone | 42461 | Dem Buren die Ehre, oder Das verlorene Glück des Buren | 78 rpm | 1901 | matrix 648A |
| Gramophone | 42319 | Zwei Äuglein braun (Ferdinand Gumbert) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1102B |
| Gramophone | 42320 | Deine blauen Augen (Kötzschke) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1112B |
| Gramophone | 42325 | Zwei dunkle Augen (Carl Heins) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1113B |
| Gramophone | 42326 | Leicht' Gepäck (Hämmerlein) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1114B |
| Gramophone | 42322 | Ach, könnt' ich noch einmal so lieben (Wilhelm Aletter) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1115B |
| Gramophone | 42324 | Das Herz am Rhein - Es liegt eine Krone im tiefen Rhein (Wilhelm Hill) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1146B |
| Gramophone | 42473 | Li-ti-ti, Rheinländer | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 1302B |
| Gramophone | 42383 | Morgenhymne (George Henschel) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 119x |
| Gramophone | 42380 | Ach, könnt' ich noch einmal so lieben (Wilhelm Aletter) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 120x |
| Gramophone | 42404 | Bruder Liederlich (Blasser) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 185x |
| Gramophone | 42407 | Zwei dunkle Augen (Carl Heins) | 78 rpm | October 1901 | matrix 199x |
| Gramophone | 44029 | Die Haselnuss, Überbrettlgesang | 78 rpm | October 1901 | duet with Gertrud Runge |
| Gramophone | 42327 | Schneeglöckchen | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1162B |
| Gramophone | 42664 | Lehn' deine Wang' an meine Wang' (Jensen) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 2113B |
| Gramophone | 42675 | Steh' ich in finstrer Mitternacht, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 2187B |
| Gramophone | 42682 | Ach, wie wär's möglich dann (Kücken) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 2188B |
| Gramophone | 42684 | Deutschland über alles (Haydn - August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 2190B |
| Gramophone | 42685 | Muss i' denn zum Städtle hinaus, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 2192B |
| Gramophone | 42073 | Es zogen drei Burschen, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 2893B |
| Gramophone | 42943 | Freiheit, die ich meine (Karl Groos) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1278x |
| Gramophone | 42945 | Wem Gott will rechte Gunst erweisen (Mathias Fröhlich) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1280x |
| Gramophone | 42982 | Carmen: Torerolied (Bizet) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1307x |
| Gramophone | 42950 | Die Schöne von New York: Du mein Girl (Gustave Kerker) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1313x |
| Gramophone | 42986 | Waldandacht (Franz Wilhelm Abt) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1371x |
| Gramophone | 42980 | Ich sieh einem jungen Mann | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1286x |
| Gramophone | 42949 | Das Grab auf der Haide (Heiser) | 78 rpm | 1902 | matrix 1312x |
| Gramophone | 2-42652 | Aennchen im Garten (Hoelzel) | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 1749x |
| Gramophone | 2-42655 | Ich sende diese Blumen dir (Gallrein) | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 1768x |
| Gramophone | 2-42656 | Wenn die Schwalben heimwärts zieh'n | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 1769x |
| Gramophone | 2-42637 | Die Puppe: Lied von der Zufriedenheit - Fragt jemand (Edmond Audran) | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 1770x |
| Gramophone | 2-42657 | Morgens send' ich dir die Veilchen | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 1784x |
| Gramophone | 2-42658 | Die Puppe: Lied des Maximus (Edmond Audran) | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 1785x |
| Gramophone | 2-42114 | Lauf der Welt (Goldschmidt) | 78 rpm | 1903 | matrix 3181B |
| Gramophone | 3-42094 | Ach, wie ist's möglich dann | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 2475L |
| Gramophone | 2-42247 | Das Vergissmeinnicht | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 1901k |
| Gramophone | 44436 | Das ist der Tag des Herrn (Conradin Kreutzer) | 78 rpm | 1904 | duet with Gertrud Runge; matrix 2326h |
| Gramophone | 3-42057 | Zampa: Reizendes Mädchen (Ferdinand Hérold) | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 2382L |
| Gramophone | 3-42054 | Das Vergissmeinnicht | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 2404L |
| Gramophone | 3-42093 | Morgenrot, Morgenrot, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 2478L |
| Gramophone | 2-42252 | Muss i' denn zum Städtle hinaus, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 1916k |
| Gramophone | 3-42065 | Muss i' denn zum Städtle hinaus, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1904 | matrix 2407L |
| Gramophone | 3-42422 | Zu Mantua in Banden (Leopold Knebelsberger) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 234r |
| Gramophone | 3-42335 | Waldandacht (Franz Wilhelm Abt) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 236r |
| Gramophone | 3-42310 | Im Krug zum grünen Kranze, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 238r |
| Gramophone | 3-42311 | O alte Burschenherrlichkeit, Studentenlied | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 239r |
| Gramophone | 3-42312 | Franz Wilhelm Abt) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 240r |
| Gramophone | 2-42320 | Zwei dunkle Augen (Carl Heins) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 256q |
| Gramophone | 2-42327 | Die Schöne von New York: Du mein Girl (Gustave Kerker) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 257q |
| Gramophone | 2-42322 | Wem Gott will rechte Gunst erweisen (Mathias Fröhlich) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 260q |
| Gramophone | 2-42323 | O alte Burschenherrlichkeit, Studentenlied | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 262q |
| Gramophone | 3-42309 | Zwei dunkle Augen (Carl Heins) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 5h |
| Gramophone | 3-42093X | Morgenrot, Morgenrot, Volkslied | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 17h |
| Gramophone | 3-42199 | Tief im Böhmerwald, Volkslied (Hans Bichert) | 78 rpm | 1905 | matrix 3066L |
| Gramophone | 3-42169 | Der rote Sarafan, russische Volkslied | 78 rpm | - | matrix 2662L |
| Gramophone | 2-42231 | Zampa: Reizendes Mädchen (Ferdinand Hérold) | 78 rpm | - | matrix 1902k |
| Victor | 61151 | Die Musik kommt | 78 rpm | - | |
| Homokord | 1135 | Die Loreley | 10" 78 rpm | - | (backed with #1212) |
| Homokord | 1212 | Vom Rhein der Wein | 10" 78 rpm | - | (backed with #1135) |
| Homokord | D238 | Wenn du noch eine Mutter hast | 10" 78 rpm | - | (reverse side by Rodulf Wang) |
| Homokord | D240 | Ach, ich hab sie ja nur auf die Schulter geküsst (C. Millöcker) | 10" 78 rpm | - | - |
| Homokord | D240 | Ich weiss ein Herz, für das ich bete | 10" 78 rpm | - | - |
| Pathé | 1056 | Nun ist's vollbracht (Lortzing) | 10.5" vertical-cut 78 rpm | - | (reverse side by Peter Lordmann) |
| Edison | 12236 | Die Zauberflöte: Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja | 2-minute cylinder | - | |
| Edison | 12262 | Zwei dunkle Augen | 2-minute cylinder | 1907 | |
| Edison | 12264 | Aria (Pardon de Ploërmel: Ah! mon remords te venge) | 2-minute cylinder | 1907 | |
| Edison | 15189 | Edelweiss | 2-minute cylinder | 1908 | |
| Edison | 15197 | Stolzenfels am Rhein (J. Meissler) | 2-minute cylinder | - | |
| Edison | 15198 | Ich sende diese Blume dir (Wagner) | 2-minute cylinder | - | |
| Edison | 15254 | Muss I Denn Zum Staedtele Hinaus | 2-minute cylinder | - | - |
| Edison | 15302 | Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (Philipp Nicolai) | 2-minute cylinder | | |
| Edison | 15334 | Tief Im Böhmerwald | 2-minute cylinder | - | |
| Edison | 16090 | Ballad of Nelusko (L'Africaine: Adamastor, roi des vagues profondes) | 2-minute cylinder | ~1909 | |
| Columbia | 40510 | Tannhäuser: O du mein holder Abendstern | 10" single-sided 78 rpm | - | - |
| Columbia | 40515 | An der Weser Pressl | single-sided 78 rpm | - | - |
| Columbia | E2565 | Die Musik kimmt (Oskar Strauss) | 10" 78 rpm | October 29, 1915 | matrix 46163 take 2 |
| Columbia | E2565 | Prinz Eugen, der edle Ritter (Carl Löwe) | 10" 78 rpm | October 29, 1915 | matrix 46164 take 1 |
| Columbia | E2566 | Das goldene Kreuz - Lied des Bombardon | 10" 78 rpm | October 29, 1915 | matrix 46165 take 1 |
| Columbia | E2566 | Bonn (Wen nur der Rhein nicht wär'...) | 10" 78 rpm | October 29, 1915 | matrix 46166 take 1 |
| Columbia | E2644 | Heimweh (Hugo Wolf) | 10" 78 rpm | November 1, 1915 | matrix 46169 take 1 |
| Columbia | E2644 | Nachtigallenlied, from "Der Vogelhändler" (Zeller) | 10" 78 rpm | November 1, 1915 | matrix 46170 take 1 |
| Columbia | A2053 | Der Trompeter von Säkkingen: Es hat nicht sollen sein | 10" 78 rpm | ~April 1916 | matrix 43921 take 1 |
| Columbia | A2053 | O schöne Zeit, o sel'ge Zeit (Götze) | 10" 78 rpm | ~April 1916 | matrix 43922 take 1 |
| Columbia | E2951 | Andreas Hofer | 10" 78 rpm | ~April 1916 | matrix 43923 |
| Columbia | E2951 | Gott erhalte (Austrian folk hymn) | 10" 78 rpm | ~April 1916 | matrix 43924 |
| Columbia | E3098 | Die Schlesischen Zecher und die Teufel (Reissiger) | 10" 78 rpm | ~May 1916 | matrix 43975 take 2 |
| Columbia | E3098 | Drei Wanderer | 10" 78 rpm | ~May 1916 | matrix 43978 take 1 |
| Columbia | E3140 | Aus der Jugendzeit (Radecke) | 10" 78 rpm | ~May 1916 | matrix 44070 take 1 |
| Columbia | E3230 | Vom Rhein beim Wein | 10" 78 rpm | 1916 | |
| Columbia | E3230 | Still wie die Nacht, tief wie das Meer | 10" 78 rpm | 1916 | duet with Julia Kuebler |
| Columbia | E3273 | Sechse, sieben oder acht (Herrmann) | 10" 78 rpm | ~May 1916 | matrix 44069 take 1 |
| Columbia | E3273 | Loblied der Polin, from "Der Bettelstudent" (Millöcker) | 10" 78 rpm | ~May 1916 | matrix 44071 take 2 |
| Columbia | E3320 | Küssen ist keine Sünd | 10" 78 rpm | - | 44033 take 1 (duet with Elinor Navarry) |
| Columbia | E3320 | Sei nicht böse | 10" 78 rpm | - | 44032 take 2 (duet with Elinor Navarry) |
| Columbia | E4898 | Wohlauf noch getrunken - Wanderlied | 10" 78 rpm | October 1920 | matrix 86736 take 1 |
| Columbia | E4898 | Loreley | 10" 78 rpm | October 1920 | matrix 86737 take 2 |
| Columbia | E4935 | Aus der Jugendzeit | 10" 78 rpm | October 1920 | matrix 86739 take 1 |
| Columbia | E4935 | Wenn die Schwalben wiederkehr'n | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86891 take 2 |
| Columbia | E4956 | Die Beiden Grenadiere | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86874 take 1 |
| Columbia | E4956 | Prinz Eugen der Ritter | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86889 take 3 |
| Columbia | E4997 | Reiters Morgenlied | 10" 78 rpm | October 1920 | matrix 86738 |
| Columbia | E4997 | Andreas Hofer | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86875 |
| Columbia | E7073 | Der Trompeter von Säkkingen:Behüt' dich Gott | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86890 take 1 |
| Columbia | E7073 | Nachtigall Lied | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86896 take 2 |
| Columbia | E7489 | Der letzte Gruss | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86873 |
| Columbia | E7489 | Einst spielt' ich mit Szepter, from "Zar und Zimmermann" | 10" 78 rpm | December 1920 | matrix 86897 |
| Victor | 68583 | Der Trompeter von Säkkingen: Behüt' dich Gott, es wär' zu schön gewesen | 12" 78 rpm | December 27, 1921 | Nathaniel Shilkret, conductor |
| Victor | 68583 | Erlkönig | 12" 78 rpm | December 27, 1921 | Nathaniel Shilkret, conductor |
| Victor | 73258 | Im Prater blüh 'n wieder die Bäume (Kurt Robitschek - Robert Stolz) | 10" 78 rpm | February 21, 1922 | matrix B 26208 take 2 |
| Victor | 73258 | Weisst du, Muatterl, was I träumt hab? (A. Kutschera) | 10" 78 rpm | February 21, 1922 | matrix B 26208 take 2 |