San Francisco County
KARL FORMES
KARL FORMES, the lamented genius of music, was born in Muhlheim, opposite Cologne, Germany, August 7, 1815. He developed a talent for music at an early age, and received his education in his native city and country. After singing in concerts and operas several years, he was honored in being elected to the position of prima basso assoluto in the Imperial Opera House in Vienna. Among thirty-two bassos he was he was chosen for this honored position, to take the place of Staudigl. Mr. Formes was recalled twenty-one times in one evening, in the role of “Bertram,” in the opera of “Robert the Devil.” At its close, upon leaving the stage after his great triumph, a gentleman came to Mr. Formes and said in a mixture of German and Italian: “You are a great genius and a remarkable actor; your phrasing is wonderful, but you do not know how to sing.” Our subject, very much surprised, turned to the librarian of the theater and asked who the gentleman was, and on being informed that it was Prof. Bassadonna, the most eminent interpreter of the Italian method of vocalism, he thanked him for the criticism and begged him to explain. The great instructor told him that his tones were uneven, and that he did not sing in good method, and ended with inviting Karl to visit him at his home. The invitation was accepted, and he studied with him two years, at the same time filling his position at the grand opera. Prof. Bassadonna further complimented him by occasionally asking him to teach his pupils for him. Mr. Formes began the compilation of his well-known work, “The Old Italian Method of Singing,” which was published here in 1885. After coming to America he sang in opera and concert all over the United States and Canada, and came to California for his health in 1875, where he remained teaching until 1882, when he returned East and sang there in the seasons of 1882-3. While there he was united in marriage, in the city of Philadelphia, on December 16, 1882, to his third wife. He met this gifted lady in San Francisco, her home, where she received her musical education. She had studied under him for many years. They were absorbed in their musical work until Mr. Formes’ death, which occurred in San Francisco on December 15, 1889. He was mourned by a large number of personal friends, and among the musical celebrities throughout the world.
Mrs. Formes is an accomplished musician, as well as a fine vocalist. She studied for the opera, and is also correspondent on vocal subjects for a number of musical papers both, East and West. She has had her husband’s autobiography printed, and donated the work for the benefit of St. Joseph’s Home, a charitable hospital of the Franciscan Sisters in San Francisco. This book is a volume of great interest to the musical profession in this country, and also throughout England, France and Germany. She has erected a fine vault in the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Cemetery, where she and her husband will rest side by side when her life work here is ended. Mrs. Formes has a large class of advanced pupils, not only from California, but also from Western and Eastern States, to pursue the old Italian method of vocal studies with her. Miss Josephine Simon, who was recently married in London, was a pupil of Karl Formes and of his wife. He always asserted that Mrs. Formes was his equal as a vocal teacher.
Transcribed
by Joyce and David Rugeroni.
Source: “The Bay of
San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 350-351, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Joyce & David
Rugeroni.