Background
Schiøtz was born in Roskilde, Denmark, but grew up in Hellerup near Copenhagen.
music educator singer opera singer
Schiøtz was born in Roskilde, Denmark, but grew up in Hellerup near Copenhagen.
He studied singing with John Forsell.
Having obtained an M.A. in Danish and English in 1930, he taught at various schools in Roskilde and Copenhagen until 1938, when he gave up teaching. In October 1936, he gave his first lieder recital, and he made his opera début at the Royal Danish Theatre, Copenhagen, in Mozart's Così fan tutte in 1939. In 1940, he made a legendary recording of the tenor aria from Handel's Messiah.
In 1945, he suffered a stroke. At the Glyndebourne Festival in 1946, he alternated with Peter Pears in the part of 'Male Chorus' in Britten's The Rape of Lucretia. More than as an opera singer, however, Schiøtz is remembered for his interpretation of Danish songs and Schubert's and Schumann's lieder, as well as songs by Carl Michael Bellman.
Aksel Schiøtz’s lyrical and sensitive interpretation of Danish songs and his perfect command of the Danish language resulted in an everlasting gift to the Danish people. From 1955 to 1958 he served as professor of music at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, later in Toronto, and finally at the University of Colorado, Boulder. From 1968 he was professor in Copenhagen.
After retiring, he wrote The Singer and His Art (Hamish Hamilton, 1971). Schiøtz died in Copenhagen in 1975, aged 68.
During the occupation there was a strong rise in Danish nationalism.
Member of faculty Royal Conservatory Music, U. Toronto, since 1958, now professor.
Married Gerda Haugsted.