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. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) 19) Sie selber! Gotter, wie schon! (w. Dietrich) X50652 xB4588 Odeon, Berlin 1909-09
2. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) 22) Nun wohl, wenn du sagst (w. Dietrich, Marak, Philipp, van Hulst & chorus) X50653 xB4583 Odeon, Berlin 1909-09
3. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Prolog Parlophon P319
4. Parsifal (Wagner) Des Weihgefasses gottlicher Gehalt with Krasa & chorus Gramophone 044249 1304s
5. Parsifal (Wagner) Enthullet den Gral! with Gotthelf Pistor HMV 2-044049
6. Parsifal (Wagner) Mein Sohn Amfortas with Krasa & chorus Gramophone 044248 1305s
7. Parsifal (Wagner) Mein Vater! (w. chorus) EJ379 (2-042065) HMV, Berlin 1928-10-13
8. Parsifal (Wagner) Wer hat ihn gefallt Electrola EJ378 (2-042064)
9. Prinz Eugen der edle Ritter (Loewe) EH131 (4-042037) HMV, Berlin 1928-03-09
10. Tannhauser (Wagner) Als du in kuhnem Sange Parlophon P316
11. Tannhauser (Wagner) Blick’ ich umher Parlophon P 324-I
12. Tannhauser (Wagner) Blick’ ich umher X50292 xB2538 Odeon, Berlin 1907-0305
13. Tannhauser (Wagner) Lied an den Abendstern Edison 15162, BA 26122
14. Tannhauser (Wagner) Lied an den Abendstern Parlophon P324-II
15. Tom der Reimer (Loewe) Tri-Ergon 5065 1932
16. Undine (Lortzing) Es wohnt am Seegestade X51424 xB4409 Odeon, Berlin 1909-02
17. Zauberflote (Mozart) Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja X50611 xB4408 Odeon, Berlin 1909-02
18. Zauberflote (Mozart) Ein Madchen oder Weibchen 15176 Edison 4-min cylinders