Ivar Andresen

Ivar Frithiof Andresen (Kristiania, July 27 1896 - Stockholm, November 6, 1940) was a Norwegian opera singer.

By some called "the voice of the century", Andresen was the first Norwegian to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. A bass, he was considered one of the best Wagner interpreters of his time but also appeared successfully in operas by Mozart and Verdi.

After his debut in Stockholm in 1919, Andresen worked at Kungliga Teatern (now Kungliga Operan, or Royal Swedish Opera, 1921-26). He then performed at the Dresden (1926-31), the Deutsche Opernhaus, Berlin (1931-35), and guested at the Metropolitan (1930-32) and the Bayreuth (1927-31). In England, he appeared at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, in 1928-31 and at the Glyndebourne Festival in 1935.

In Norway he is today probably best known for adorning the box of the cough drop brand "IFA", produced by Nidar. Since the 1930s Andresen's face has been seen on the package, along with a quote recommending the product to "singers, public speakers, smokers and athletes".

Fortunately, Andresen made a number of recordings prior to his premature death. They are available on CD transfers and show the power and nobility of his black-toned voice.

References

* Rosenthal, Harold and John Warrack. (1979, 2nd ed.). " [http://www.folklib.net/index/discog/bibliog7.shtml#ko The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera] ". London, New York and Melbourne: Oxford University Press. p. 12. ISBN 0-19-311318-X.
* Sadie, Stanley and Christina Bashford. (1992). " [http://www.folklib.net/index/discog/bibliog7.shtml#kn The New Grove Dictionary of Opera] ". London: Macmillan Publishers Ltd. Vol. 1, p. 129. ISBN 0-935859-92-6.
* Sadie, Stanley and John Tyrrell. (2001)." [http://www.folklib.net/index/discog/bibliog.shtml#km The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians] ". London: Macmillan Publishers Ltd. Vol. 1, p. 630. ISBN 0-333-60800-3.

External links

* [http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/frame.htm MetOpera database]