Description

HEINRICH REHKEMPER (SCHWERTE, 23 MAY, 1894 – MUNICH, 30 DECEMBER, 1949)

 

 

 

 

He initially trained as a mechanical engineer before studying at the conservatories of Hagen (Westphalia) and Düsseldorf, and later at the Munich Academy of Music. He made his stage debut in 1919 at the Coburg State Theatre. From 1921 to 1924, he was engaged at the Stuttgart State Opera, and from 1925 onward at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. In Munich, he became one of the most popular singers of his time.

His major operatic roles included Don Giovanni, the title role in The Marriage of Figaro, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Wolfram in Tannhäuser, and Amfortas in Parsifal. He also performed many other, very diverse roles. On November 12, 1931, he appeared in the world premiere of Hans Pfitzner’s opera Das Herz at the Munich Opera. From 1924 onward, he also appeared frequently as a concert singer and was regarded as one of the most important interpreters of art song of his generation. His mastery as a lieder performer was admired both in Germany and abroad.

On December 27, 1933, he took part in the world premiere of Eduard Künnecke’s operetta Die lockende Flamme at the Theater des Westens in Berlin. From 1940 to 1945, in addition to his singing career, he also taught at the Mozarteum in Salzburg. His warm, expressive baritone voice was highly valued on stage—especially in Mozart roles, but also in the Italian and Wagnerian repertoire. Nevertheless, he was primarily known as a lieder singer. His recordings were issued on Polydor, and his 1928 recording of Gustav Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder was reissued on Pearl in 1992.

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Ich soll ein Glück entbehren 65703 (B22127) 920as Polydor, Berlin 1922 (autumn)

Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) Will einst das Gräflein 90149 (B2296) 1692½bh Polydor, Berlin 1929

Orpheus (Schubert) 66006 (B22220) 1057av Polydor, Berlin 1924

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Schaut her, ich bin’s (Prolog) 65702 (B22124) 919as Polydor, Berlin 1922 (autumn)

Parsifal (Wagner) Die Stunde naht 65701 (B22122) 922as Polydor, Berlin 1922 (autumn)

Paulus (Mendelssohn) Gott sei mir gnädig 66713 (B22388) 875bm Polydor, Berlin 1928

Pilgers Morgenlied (R Strauss) 66005 (B22218) 1733as Polydor, Berlin 1924

Prometheus, pt 1, pt 2 (Wolf) 66004 (B22216), 66004 (B22217), 1731½as, 1732as Polydor, Berlin 1924

Requiem (Verdi) Confutatis maledictis (It) 66005 (B22219) 1734as Polydor, Berlin 1924

Rigoletto (Verdi) Gleich sind wir beide 62401 (B2067) 1951ar Polydor, Berlin 1922 (autumn)

Sei mir gegrüßt (Schubert) 95103 (B22400) 1014bm Polydor, Berlin 1928

Storchenbotschaft (Wolf) 27186 (B62295) 875Bi I Polydor, Berlin 1929

Tannhäuser (Wagner) Wie Todesahnung 65701 (B22123) 917as Polydor, Berlin 1922 (autumn)

Trovatore (Verdi) Ihres Auges himmlisch Strahlen 62401 (B2068) 1952ar Polydor, Berlin 1922 (autumn)

Wildschütz (Lortzing) Heiterkeit und Fröhlichkeit! 95350 (B22468) 876Bi Polydor, Berlin 1929

Wohin (Schubert) 62476 (B2119) 1646at Polydor, Berlin 1924

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen 66714 (B22391) 878bm Polydor, Berlin 1928

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Papagena! Papagena! 66714 (B22390) 877bm Polydor, Berlin 1928

Zur Johannisnacht (Grieg) 23150 (B43138) 1686BH I Polydor, Berlin 1929