Description

JOHANNES SEMBACH (BERLIN, 9 MARCH, 1881 – BREMERHAVEN, 20 JUNE, 1944)

 

 

 

 

His real name was Johannes Semfke. Under this name, he performed from 1900 to 1904 at the Berlin Apollo Theatre as a baritone in operettas. During this period, he took part in the premieres of the operettas Lysistrata and Nakiris Hochzeit by Paul Lincke. He later decided to pursue a career as an opera singer, studying in Vienna and then under Jean de Reszke in Paris. In 1904, he made his debut as a tenor at the Wiener Staatsoper, where he remained until 1907.

From 1907 to 1913, he was engaged by the Court Opera of Dresden. While there, on January 25, 1909, he performed as Ägisth in the premiere of Richard Strauss’s opera Elektra. On September 7, 1907, he appeared in the premiere of Die Schönen von Fogaras by A. Grünfeld, and in 1907, he sang the role of Lenski in the Dresden première of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin.

In 1914, he made a guest appearance at Covent Garden in the English première of the opera Joseph by Étienne Méhul. That same year, he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His first role there was Parsifal, and he achieved success in Wagnerian operas, particularly as Siegmund and Siegfried. Critics compared him to the famous Jean de Reszke. He appeared at the Metropolitan Opera until 1917 and then returned for the 1920-22 seasons. On March 8, 1917, he performed in the premiere of the opera The Canterbury Pilgrims by Reginald De Koven at the Met.

In 1925, he settled in Berlin as a vocal pedagogue. He made a guest appearance at the Dresden Opera House again in 1927. During the 1930-31 season, he participated in a U.S. tour as a member of the German Opera. In 1932, he also appeared in broadcasts by the German broadcasting company.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1907 Dresden court opera Eugene Onegin (Lensky)

1909 Dresden court opera Elektra (Ägisth)

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Aida (Verdi) Holde Aida 3-42969 3906r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112

Am Elterngrab (Winter-Tymian) 15040 Edison 2-min cylinders, Berlin 1904-01

Am Meer (Schubert) E5141 59461-2 Columbia, New York 1916-06

An der Weser (Pressel) 22178 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)

Bohème (Puccini) Wie eiskalt ist dies Händchen 042237 443m Gramophone, Dresden 1909-10

Bohème (Puccini) Wo ich selig vom Glück (w. Nast) Gramophone 044150 270ac

Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Trinklied (w. chorus) 3-42959 3904r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112

Dame Blanche (Boïeldieu) Komm, o holde Dame W7226 7226OE Lyrophon, Wien 1907-03?

Das Herz am Rhein (Hill) 22177 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)

Der Asra (Rubinstein) E3139 44620-2 Columbia, New York 1917-0203

Der Lenz (Hildach) E3139 43939 Columbia, New York 1916-04

Du bist wie eine Blume (Schumann) E3270 43963 Columbia, New York 1916-04

Ein Vöglein sang im Lindenbaum X-22089 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)

Es war einmal (Lincke) X-22084 (as Siegfried Steiner) Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809

Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Wohin seid ihr entschwunden 042234 255ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02

Faust (Gounod) Sei mir gegrüsst (Cavatine) 042151 337s G&T, Berlin 1907-1112

Fidelio (Beethoven) Gott, welch Dunkel hier!… O namenlose Freude (w. Ammermann) MD9619 MD9620 Clangor, Berlin 19331934

Fliegende Holländer (Wagner) Mit Gewitter und Sturm 4-42371 10169L Gramophone, Dresden 1909-10

Freischütz (Weber) Durch die Wälder A5842 48727 Columbia, New York 1916-04-24

Frühlingsluft (Strauss) Morgen wollen wir hinaus (Pfeiflied) 2-42745 1876x G&T, Berlin 1903-0809

Frühlingsluft (Strauss) Pfeifflied 15027 Edison 2-min cylinders, Berlin 1904-01

Frühlingszeit (Becker) E3096 43935 Columbia, New York 1916-04

Gruss an Sorrent (Waldmann) X-22062 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0708

Gute Nacht (Abt) E3270 43962 Columbia, New York 1916-04

Gute Nacht, du mein herziges Kind (Abt) X-22065 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0708

Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Ihr Wangenpaar 3-42968 3905r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land A5835 48731 Columbia, New York 1916-04-25

Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land Vox 03016 44A Vox, Berlin 1921-1011

Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan 4-42372 2006ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-12-17

Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan A5889 48730 Columbia, New York 1916-04-25

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) ‘s ist schon was Wahres dran (w. Nast) 044146 269ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-15

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) Willst du nun endlich mir sagen (w. Nast) 044145 268ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-15

Martha (Flotow) Ach, so freomm 3-42960 3907r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112

Martha (Flotow) Ach, so fromm 03014 41A Vox, Berlin 1921-1011

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Am stillen Herd 03015 46A Vox, Berlin 1921-1011

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend 03016 47A Vox, Berlin 1921-1011

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Morgenlich leuchtend 042233 254ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02

Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Preislied A5889 48725 Columbia, New York 1916-04-24

Nakiris Hochzeit (Lincke) Ob du mich liebst 2-42535 1513x G&T, Berlin 1903-0405

Nakiris Hochzeit (Lincke) Ob du mich liebst X-22060 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0708

Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Jetzt spielen 042152 338s G&T, Berlin 1907-1112

Rigoletto (Verdi) Freundlich blick’ ich  4-42302 1745½ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02

Rigoletto (Verdi) O wie so trügerisch W7224 7224OE Lyrophon, Wien 1907-03

Röslein rot (trad) (w. Bloch, Goritz & Braun) E3515 43950 Columbia, New York 1916-04

Sehnsucht (Rubinstein) E5141 59462 Columbia, New York 1916-06

Siegfried (Wagner) Nothung, Nothung A5842 48729 Columbia, New York 1916-04-25

Tiefland (d’Albert) Schau’ her (Wolfserzählung) 042231 252ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02

Trovatore (Verdi) Lodern zum Himmel 4-42300, 1746ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02

Walküre (Wagner) Siegmunds Liebeslied A5835 48726-1 Columbia, New York 1916-04-24

Walküre (Wagner) Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond 03015 43A Vox, Berlin 1921-1011

Winterlied (von Koss) 3042 31B Vox, Berlin 1921-1011

Winterlied (von Koss) E3096 43936 Columbia, New York 1916

Zauberflöte (Mozart) Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön 03014 42A Vox, Berlin 1921-1011