Description

JOHANNES SEMBACH (JOHANNES SEMFKE) (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

1. Aida (Verdi) Holde Aida 3-42969 3906r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112
2. An der Weser (Pressel) 22178 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)
3. Boheme (Puccini) Wie eiskalt ist dies Handchen 042237 443m Gramophone, Dresden 1909-10
4. Boheme (Puccini) Wo ich selig vom Gluck (w. Nast) Gramophone 044150 270ac
5. Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni) Trinklied (w. chorus) 3-42959 3904r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112
6. Dame Blanche (Boieldieu) Komm, o holde Dame Lyrophon W7226 7226OE
7. Das Herz am Rhein (Hill) 22177 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)
8. Es war einmal (Lincke) X-22084 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)
9. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Wohin seid ihr entschwunden 042234 255ac Gramophone, Berlin 1909-10-02
10. Faust (Gounod) Sei mir gegrusst (Cavatine) 042151 337s G&T, Berlin 1907-1112
11. Fidelio (Beethoven) Gott, welch Dunkel hier!… O namenlose Freude (w. Ammermann) MD9619 MD9620 Clangor, Berlin 19331934
12. Fliegende Hollander (Wagner) Mit Gewitter und Sturm 4-42371 10169L Gramophone, Dresden 1909-10
13. Freischutz (Weber) Durch die Walder Columbia A5842 48727
14. Fruhlingsluft (Strauss) Morgen wollen wir hinaus (Pfeiflied) 2-42745 1876x G&T, Berlin 1903-0809
15. Gute Nacht (Abt) E3270 43962 Columbia, New York 1916-04
16. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Ihr Wangenpaar 3-42968 3905r G&T, Berlin 1907-1112
17. Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land A5835 48731 Columbia, New York 1916-04-25
18. Lohengrin (Wagner) In fernem Land Vox 03016 44A
19. Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan 4-42372 2006ab Gramophone, Berlin 1909-12-17
20. Lohengrin (Wagner) Mein lieber Schwan A5889 48730 Columbia, New York 1916-04-25