Description

HEINRICH HENSEL (NEUSTADT, GERMANY, 29 OCTOBER, 1874 – HAMBURG, GERMANY, 23 FEBRUARY, 1935)

He originally wanted to pursue a commercial career but was discovered by the conductor Felix Mottl. He studied with Gustav Walter in Vienna and Eduard Bellwidt in Frankfurt am Main. In 1897, he made his debut at the municipal theater in Freiburg im Breisgau as Alessandro in Flotow’s Alessandro Stradella. From there, he went to the opera house in Frankfurt am Main in 1900, where his inaugural role was Lyonel in Flotow’s Martha. He remained a member of the Frankfurt company until 1906. In 1902, he appeared in Frankfurt in the world premiere of Humperdinck’s opera Sleeping Beauty, performing the role of the Prince.

From 1906 to 1911, he sang at the court theater in Wiesbaden, where he was greatly admired by the young Richard Tauber. On January 23, 1910, he took part in the world premiere of Siegfried Wagner’s opera Banadietrich at the court theater in Karlsruhe. In 1911-12, he performed Parsifal and Loge in the Ring cycle at the Bayreuth Festival. He also sang the role of Loge from 1911-14 at Covent Garden Opera in London.

From 1911-12, he was engaged at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, making his debut as Siegmund in Die Walküre. In 1912, he also appeared at the Chicago Opera. From 1912-1929, he was a celebrated heroic tenor and a leading Wagnerian performer at the Hamburg City Theater (Opera House). In 1914, he sang Parsifal in the first performances of the opera at both Covent Garden in London and the Brussels Opera.

He made guest appearances in major European cities including Copenhagen, Berlin, Vienna, Munich, Paris, and Zurich (where he performed Lohengrin in 1907, and Siegmund and Siegfried in 1912). He also sang Lohengrin in Amsterdam in 1910.

In addition to his Wagnerian repertoire, his stage roles included Manrico in Il Trovatore, Tamino in The Magic Flute, George Brown in Boieldieu’s La Dame blanche, Raoul in Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Chapelou in Adam’s Le Postillon de Lonjumeau.

Later in his career, he worked as a voice teacher in Hamburg. He was married to the dramatic soprano Elsa Hensel-Schweitzer (1871-1937), but the two artists separated in 1910.

TRACKLIST

1. Rheingold (Wagner) Über Stock und Stein 042260 483m Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-02
2. Schwalbennest (Herblay) Das Falkenpaar (w. Schramm) 2-44021 3317L G&T, Frankfurt-am-Main 1905
3. Siegfried (Wagner) Heil dir, Sonne! (w. Hensel-Schweizer) 044165 485m Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-02
4. Siegfried (Wagner) Nothung! Nothung! Neidliches Schwert P1209 2-2953 Parlophon, Berlin 1921-06-29
5. Siegfried (Wagner) Nothung, Nothung (Schmiedelied) 4-42237 957ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-04-27
6. Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiede, mein Hammer (Schwertlied) 4-42236 955ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-04-27
7. Siegfried (Wagner) Schmiedelied Jung Siegfrieds P1209 2-2958 Parlophon, Berlin 1921-06-29
8. Siegfried (Wagner) Selig Öde auf wonniger Höh’ 042292 487m Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-03
9. Siegfried (Wagner) Waldweben – Du holdes Vöglein 76305 xxB5688 Odeon, Berlin 1912
10. Siegfried (Wagner) Wie weck’ ich die Maid 042293 488m Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-03
11. Ständchen (R Strauss) 4-42465 11081L Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-03
12. Ständchen (Schubert) 4-42381 11079L Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-02
13. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Da sah ich ihn 76304 xxB5687 Odeon, Berlin 1912
14. Tannhäuser (Wagner) Inbrunst im Herzen 76303 xxB5686 Odeon, Berlin 1912
15. Tiefland (d’Albert) Ich grüß’ noch einmal meine Berge 99894 xB5684 Odeon, Berlin 1912
16. Trovatore (Verdi) a) Ständchen, b) Daß noch einmal sie erschiene 99895 xB5690 Odeon, Berlin
17. Trovatore (Verdi) Dass nur für mich 4-42225 961ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-04-28
18. Trovatore (Verdi) Einsam steh’ ich verlassen (Ständchen) 4-42226 962ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-04-28
19. Walküre (Wagner) Ein Schwert verhieß mir der Vater P1210 2-2955 Parlophon, Berlin 1921-06-29
20. Walküre (Wagner) War Wälse dein Vater (w. Hensel-Schweizer) 044164 484m Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-02
21. Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme 4-42453 11089L Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-03
22. Winterlied (Koss) 4-42451 11086L Gramophone, Berlin 1910-08-03
23. Zigeunerbaron (Strauss) Wer uns getraut (w. Hensel-Schweizer) 44233 1185z G&T, Frankfurt-am-Main 1903