Description

BAPTIST HOFFMANN (GARITZ, 9 JULY, 1864 – GARITZ, 5 JULY, 1937)

He studied singing under Louise Weinlich-Tipka in Munich and Julius Stockhausen in Frankfurt. He made his debut in 1888 at the Stadttheater in Graz as the hunter in Nachtlager von Granada by C. Kreutzer. During the 1888-1894 seasons, he sang at the Opernhaus in Cologne, and from 1894 to 1897, he appeared at the Stadttheater in Hamburg. In 1897, he was engaged by the Hofoper in Berlin, where he performed until 1919. At the Hofoper, he sang in the premieres of the operas Briseïs by Emmanuel Chabrier (January 14, 1899), Regina by Albert Lortzing (March 21, 1899), Cain by E. d’Albert (September 17, 1900), Heilmar, der Narr by W. Kienzl (January 28, 1902), Der Wald by Ethel Smyth (April 9, 1902), Der Roland von Berlin by R. Leoncavallo (December 13, 1904), and Heirat wider Willen by E. Humperdinck (April 14, 1905). In 1906, he sang in the Berlin premiere of Salome by R. Strauss and performed in the premiere of Rosenkavalier in 1911. In 1907, he took on the role of Sharpless in G. Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

He made guest appearances in Munich, Dresden, Hamburg, London, and Brussels. His extensive repertoire included Nelusco in G. Meyerbeer’s Africaine, Lothario in Mignon by A. Thomas, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Wolfram in Tannhäuser, Telramund in Lohengrin, and Pizarro in Fidelio. After ending his stage career, he worked as a vocal pedagogue in Berlin.

Chronology of some appearances

1888 Graz Stadttheater

1888-1894 Cologne Opernhaus

1894-1897 Hamburg Stadttheater

1897-1919 Berlin Hofoper

TRACKLIST

1. Carmen (Bizet) Euren Toast P1159, 2-1159 Parlophon, Berlin 1912-02-10
2. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Dir, o Königin P677, 2-677 Parlophon, Berlin 1911
3. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Dir, o Königin X-2-22074 Zonophone, Berlin 1909-05-17
4. Carmen (Bizet) Euren Toast (Torerolied) 3-42402 3930h G&T, Berlin 1905-11
5. Elektra (Strauss) Allein… Orest! Orest! (w. Plaichinger) 15729 Pathé, Berlin 19091910
6. Faust (Gounod) Da ich nun verlassen (Gebet) P1158, 2-1158 Parlophon, Berlin 1912-02-10
7. Fliegende Holländer (Wagner) Wie aus der Ferne 042120 502i G&T, Berlin 1905-11
8. Lohengrin (Wagner) Dank, König, dir P1155 2-1155 Parlophon, Berlin 1912-02-10
9. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Fliedermonolog P679, 2-679 Parlophon, Berlin 1911
10. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Verachtet mir die Meister P1177, 2-1177 Parlophon, Berlin 1912-02-15
11. Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Ich soll ein Glück entbehren P678, 2-678 Parlophon, Berlin 1911
12. Otello (Verdi) Ich glaub’ an einen Gott (Credo) P1157, 2-1157 Parlophon, Berlin 1912-02-10
13. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Schaut her, ich bin’s (Prolog) 3-42401 3932h G&T, Berlin 1905-11
14. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Warum denn hieltst du mich sehnend umfangen (w. Denera) 15622 Pathé, Berlin 1909
15. Salome (Strauss) Wird dir nicht bange (w. piano) 3-42711 2379r G&T, Berlin 1907
16. Salome (Strauss) Wo ist er, dessen Sündenbecher (w. piano) 3-42712 2380r G&T, Berlin 1907
17. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Blick’ ich umher X-2-22073 Zonophone, Berlin 1909-05-17
18. Undine (Lortzing) O kehr’ zurück 3-42546 3933h G&T, Berlin 1905-11
19. Waffenschmied (Lortzing) Auch ich war ein Jüngling 3-42425 3935h G&T, Berlin 1905-11
20. Zar und Zimmermann (Lortzing) Zarenlied 40593 Columbia, Berlin 1904/1905