Description

CORNELIS BRONSGEEST (LEIDEN, HOLLAND 24/7 1878 – BERLIN, GERMANY 22/9 1957)

 

 

 

 

Initially, he aspired to become an architect, but after discovering his beautiful voice, he studied singing with Richard Schulz-Dornburg in Berlin and later under Julius Stockhausen in Frankfurt am Main. He made his debut in 1902 at the Stadttheater Magdeburg, where he performed until the following year.

At the Berlin Hofoper, he made his debut as Amonasro in Aida and in 1913 sang the role of Posa in the premiere of G. Verdi’s Don Carlo. Three years later, he performed in the premiere of R. Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. Before World War I, he made successful guest appearances in Holland, Belgium, and France. In 1914, under Sir Thomas Beecham, he sang the role of Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at the Drury Lane Theatre in London.

During the 1919-1920 season, he undertook a North American tour. In 1920, he guest-starred at the Vienna Staatsoper. He founded the Berlin Broadcasting Company Orchestra and the Broadcasting Company Choir. From 1922 to 1924, he toured Holland and Belgium and in 1924 organized a performance of R. Wagner’s Parsifal at the Amsterdam Théâtre Carré.

In 1933, due to political reasons, he ceased his activities with the broadcasting company and from 1935 to 1944 served as the director of the Berlin Theater der Jugend. Until 1935, he continued to make guest appearances at the Berlin Hofoper. During World War II, he performed opera for German soldiers. After the war, he organized the first opera performances in the devastated Berlin.

He was married to actress Bertha Kleen.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1902-1903 Magdeburg Stadttheater

1903-1908 Hamburg Stadttheater

1906-1919 Berlin Hofoper

1914 London Drury Lane Theatrer

1919-1920 North America tour

1920 Wien Staatsoper

1921-1923 Berlin Hofoper

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Aida (Verdi) Ihr Vater! Ich hab’ gekampft Odeon X50672 xB4703
2. Aida (Verdi) Vater, ich bin nicht ihnen die Sklavin with Rose Odeon X50569 xB4146
3. Alt Niederlandisches Dankgebet (arr Kremser) Tri-Ergon 1156 2143
4. An der Weser (Pressel) Ultraphon E613 15438-I
5. Archibald Douglas, pt 1 (Loewe) Electrola EH100 (4-042024)
6. Archibald Douglas, pt 2 (Loewe) Electrola EH100 (4-042025)
7. Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) Ich bin das Faktotum X51423 xB4261 Odeon, Berlin 1908-10
8. Das Grab auf der Heide (Heiser) Ultraphon E613 15162Z
9. Don Giovanni (Mozart) Frohlich sei mein Abendessen with Lohfing Parlophon P 704
10. Don Giovanni (Mozart) O hochgeschatzte Statue with Lohfing Parlophon P 705
11. Faust (Gounod) Valentins Gebet Edison 15143 BA 26148
12. Faust (Gounod) Valentins Tod Parlophon P320
13. Fliegende Hollander (Wagner) Versank ich jetzt with Erna Denera Parlophon P 542
14. Fliegende Hollander (Wagner) Wie aus der Ferne with Erna Denera Parlophon P 541
15. Fridericus Rex (Loewe) EH131 (4-042038) HMV, Berlin 1928-03-09
16. Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) In einem Waschkorb with Lohfing Parlophon P 388-I
17. Lustigen Weiber von Windsor (Nicolai) Wie freu’ ich mich (w. Lohfing) Parlophon P388-II
18. Nozze die Figaro (Mozart) Ich soll ein Gluck entbehren X50582, xB4263 Odeon, Berlin 1908-10
19. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) 9) Was gibt’s Du sagtest doch, du gingst (w. Dietrich) XX80045 xxB4702 Odeon, Berlin 1909-10