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 Zonophone, Berlin 1903-0809 (as tenor)

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