Johann Michael Vogl (
August 10, 1768 in
Steyr–November 19, 1840 in
Vienna) was an
Austrian baritone singer and composer. Though famous in his day, he is remembered mainly for his close professional relationship and friendship with composer
Franz Schubert.
As a young man Vogl enrolled at the
Gymnasium at
Kremsmünster, where he studied languages, philosophy, and sang in several musical productions by his friend
Franz Süssmayr (the same man who completed
Mozart's Requiem). In
1786 Vogl went to
Vienna to study, and later to practice, law; in
1795 he debuted at the Vienna Hofoper, and quickly attracted a following for both his acting capability and the beauty of his voice.
In
1813, Franz Schubert attended a performance of
Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride in which Vogl sang the role of
Orestes; Schubert never forgot the experience and determined to write for Vogl. The following year, when Vogl sang the role of Pizarro at the premiere of the final version of
Beethoven's Fidelio, it is said that the 17-year-old Schubert actually sold his schoolbooks in order to afford a ticket.
When composer and singer finally met, in
1817, Vogl was as impressed with the quality of Schubert's music as Schubert was with Vogl's singing. Schubert wrote a lot of his subsequent songs with Vogl in mind. One of their early successes was an 1821 performance of
Der Erlkönig, prior to its publication and to significant popular acclaim.
Rarely in music history has the relationship of a composer and a specific singer been so musically productive. Vogl continued to sing Schubert's music after the death of his friend in
1828, famously singing a complete performance of
Winterreise shortly before his own death on the twelfth anniversary of the death of his friend.
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