A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Schimon, Adolf

SCHIMON, Adolf, son of an Austrian artist, well-known for his portraits of Beethoven, Weber, Spohr, etc., was born on Feb. 29, 1820, at Vienna. At 16 he went to Paris and entered the Conservatoire as a pupil of Berton and Halévy. In 1844 he brought out an opera called Stradella at the Pergola in Florence. In 1850 he was in London, and took a provincial tour with Balfe, Reeves, and Clara Novello. From 1854 to 59 he was attached to the Italian opera in Paris, and in 1858 produced a comic opera, 'List um List,' which was successful in North Germany. In 1872 we find him again at Florence, where he married Miss Anna Regan. (See below.) From 1874 to 77 he was teacher of singing in the Conservatorium at Leipzig, and from thence was called to Munich, where he is now professor of singing in the Royal Music School. His original compositions embrace quartets, trios, and solos for the PF., and songs in various languages, and he has edited many vocal pieces by Scarlatti, Porpora, Paradies, and other old Italian masters. [App. p.785 "Add date of death, June 21, 1887."] His wife, Anna Regan-Schimon, was born at Aich, near Carlsbad, Sept. 18, 1841, and was brought up in the house of Dr. Anger in Carlsbad till 1859, when she was placed as a pupil with Mme. Schubert (née Maschinka-Schneider) in Dresden. In the following year she accompanied Mad. Sabatier-Ungher, the great contralto, to Florence, where she remained under the care of that eminent artist till Feb. 1864. During this time she made her first attempts on the stage at Siena, her success in which encouraged her in further study. From 1864 to 67 she was engaged at the Court theatre at Hanover. Then as Kamraersängerin to the Grand Duchess Helena in St. Petersburg, where she sang at three of the seven concerts given by Berlioz. In 1869 she visited London in company with her old friend and teacher, Mad. Sabatier, sang twice at the Philharmonic and three times at the Crystal Palace, and at Mr. C. Halle's Recitals, etc. From this time till 1875 she was frequently in England, widely-known and much liked for her exquisite delivery of Schubert's and other songs. In 1870 and 71 she visited Vienna with great success, and in 1873 married Dr. Schimon. Since then, excepting two brilliant tournées with Monbelli, Sivori, Trebelli, etc., in the winters of 1872 and 1873, she has almost retired from public appearance, save only at the Gewandhaus Concerts at Leipzig, where she is a regular and very favourite singer.

[ G. ]