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

 

 

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