Description

RUDOLF LAUBENTHAL (DÜSSELDORF, MARCH 10, 1886 – PÖCKING, BAVARIA, OCTOBER 2, 1972)

 

 

 

 

Initially pursuing a medical career, he studied medicine at the universities of Munich, Strasbourg, and Berlin. However, his passion for music led him to study singing, receiving lessons from notable instructors, including Lilli Lehmann in Berlin. He began his career as a concert singer and created a sensation in 1912 with a performance in Eisenach.

His operatic potential was recognized by the manager of the Berlin German Opera House, who engaged him following his Eisenach success. Laubenthal made his operatic debut at the Berlin German Opera House in 1913, where he enjoyed significant acclaim until 1918. Among his achievements there was his participation in the 1916 premiere of Felix von Weingartner’s opera Dame Kobold.

Laubenthal’s talents also brought him to the Metropolitan Opera (MET) in New York, where he debuted as Walther von Stolzing in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. At the MET, he took part in several notable opera premieres, solidifying his reputation as a leading tenor of his time.

1924 Jenufa (Laca Klemeň) L. Janáček

1928 Ägyptischen Helena (Menelas)  R. Strauss

1931 Schwanda der Dudelsackpfeifer (Babinski)  J. Weinberger

1932 Elektra (Ägisth) R. Strauss

At the Metropolitan Opera his repertoire included Florestan in ‘’Fidelio’’, Max in ‘’Freischütz’’ and Tamino in “Zauberflöte”.

He was married the soprano Lulu Kaesser. His only pupil was known tenor Horst R. Laubenthal, whom he adopted as a son.

Chronology of some appearances

1913-1918 Berlin German Opera House

1919-1923 Munich Bavarian State Opera

1923-1933 New York Metropolitan Opera

1926-1930 London Covent Garden

1929 Berlin State Opera

Walter von Stolzing 12/11/1923, Lohengrin 1/8/1924, Siegfried 3/17/1925, Walter von Stolzing 3/31/1925, Nureddin 12/8/1925, Tristan 2/2/1926, Tannhäuser 3/2/1926, Walter von Stolzing 3/16/1926, Tristan 3/22/1927, Walter von Stolzing 1/10/1928, Tristan 2/28/1928, Siegfried 3/27/1928, Siegmund 11/27/1928, Siegfried 2/19/1929, Siegmund 11/26/1929, Walter von Stolzing 12/17/1929, Tristan 2/11/1930, Florestan 3/18/1930, Siegmund 11/11/1930, Siegfried 1/13/1931, 2/10/1931, Parsifal 3/31/1931, Babinsky 11/10/1931, Riégo 1/5/1932, Siegfried 4/5/1932, Tannhäuser 12/20/1932, Siegfried 1/17/1933, Jeník 2/14/1933 (Filadelfia)

 

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Africaine (Meyerbeer) Land so wunderbar 8135 50780 Homokord, Berlin 1922-12-25
2. Die verkaufte Braut (Smetana) Es muß gelingen P1045 2-2501 Parlophon, Berlin 1919-08-30
3. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Wohin, wohin, wohin seid ihr entschwunden Parlophon P1069 2-2540
4. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Wohin seid ihr entschwunden, pt 1 8171 50781 Homocord, Berlin 1922-12-23
5. Eugen Onegin (Tchaikovsky) Wohin seid ihr entschwunden, pt 2 8171 50782 Homocord, Berlin 1922-12-23
6. Freischütz (Weber) Durch die Wälder EJ565 (32-1434), HMV, London 1930-01
7. Freischütz (Weber) Jetzt ist wohl ihr Fenster offen EJ565 (32-1435) HMV, London 1930-01
8. Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Brünnhilde, heilige Braut!… Mime hiess ein mürrischer Zwerg… Il Leid zu dem Wipfel (w. Zador & List) 9592, 9593, 9593, CLR4482-1, CLR4483-2, CLR4484-1 Victor, 1928-09-07
9. Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Ich höre sein Horn (w. de Garmo, Kindermann & Marherr-Wagner) D1582 CLR4489-1 HMV, Berlin 1928-09-10
10. Götterdämmerung (Wagner) Kommt Schwestern! (w. de Garmo, Kindermann & Marherr-Wagner) 9592 CLR4491-2 Victor, 1928-09-10
11. Götterdämmerung (Wagner): He! He! He! (w. de Garmo, Kindermann &
    Marherr-Wagner) 9591 CLR4490-2 Victor, 1928-09-10
12. Huguenots (Meyerbeer) Ihr Wangenpaar Parlophon P1045  2-2503-2
13. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Grüss’ Gott, mein Junker (w. Schorr) D1990 (32-1412), HMV, London 1930-05-01
14. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner) Mein Freund, in holder Jugendzeit D1990 (32-1413) HMV, London 1930-05-01
15. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo) Rezitativ und Arie des Canio 8135 50783 Homocord, Berlin 1922-12-23
16. Siegfried (Wagner) Ewig war ich, ewig bin ich (w. Leider) HMV, Berlin 1927-08-27
17. Siegfried (Wagner) Heil dir, Sonne! (w. Leider) D1532 (2-044014), HMV, Berlin 1927-08-27
18. Siegfried (Wagner) O Siegfried! Dein war ich von je! (w. Leider) D1535 (2-044018), HMV, Berlin 1927-08-27
19. Siegfried (Wagner) Siegfried forges the sword anew D1530 (2-042044) HMV, Berlin 1927-08-25
20. Siegfried (Wagner) Siegfried meditates on his parentage D1530 (2-042043) HMV, Berlin 1927-08-25
21. Siegfried (Wagner) Siegfried rests after slaying the dragon D1532 (2-042045) HMV, Berlin 1927-08-25
22. Tosca (Puccini) E lucevan le stelle 8169 50779 Homokord
23. Tosca (Puccini) Recondita armonia 8169  50784 Homokord
24. Trovatore (Verdi) Daß nur für mich dein Herz erbebt Parlophon P1060 2-2542
25. Trovatore (Verdi) Stretta P1060 2-2541 Parlophon, Berlin 1919-10-30