Description

WALDEMAR HENKE (BORN MARCH 24, 1876 KÖNIGSBERG/KALININGRAD, RUSSIA; DIED CIRCA 1945)

 

 

 

 

He initially pursued a career as an actor, making his debut in 1896 at the Municipal Theater in Poznań. After brief training with the pedagogue Muschler in Berlin, he shifted to opera and began his career at the Municipal Theater in Poznań in 1898, where he performed until 1901.

From 1901 to 1911, he was engaged at the Court Theater in Wiesbaden, where he notably participated in the premiere of Otto Neitzel’s Die Barbarina in 1905. His talents caught the attention of Emperor Wilhelm II, leading to an engagement at the Berlin Court Opera (later the Berlin State Opera) in 1911.

At the Berlin Court Opera, he excelled as a tenor buffo and character tenor. His repertoire included roles such as David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Mime in Der Ring des Nibelungen, Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, and many others. He made a significant impact at the Berlin premiere of Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier in 1911, where he played Valzacchi.

He was also involved in the premieres of several important works, including Alban Berg’s Wozzeck in 1925 and Sergei Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges in 1926. Between 1928 and 1931, he performed at the Kroll Opera in Berlin and was part of the ensemble of the Berlin State Opera, which toured Holland, Spain, and Switzerland.

He joined the German Opera Company led by Johanna Gadski and toured the USA with the company in 1928, performing the role of Mime. In addition to his stage career, he was a respected concert and oratorio singer, including solo performances in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

From 1936, he worked as a stage manager and, during World War II, performed for German front-line soldiers along with his friend Cornelis Bronsgeest. In 1944, he moved to Königsberg.

 

Chronology of some appearances

 

1896-1901 Poznan Municipal Theater

1901-1911Wiesbaden Court Theater

1911-1928 Berlin Court Opera

1928-1931 Berlin Kroll Opera

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

1. Lohengrin (Wagner): Gralserzählung B. 3548-IIBeka
2. Lohengrin (Wagner): Lohengrins Ankunft B. 3548-I Beka
3. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Johannistag! Johannistag! with von Scheele-Müller & chorus 3-44097 1580ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-07
4. Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Wagner): Was macht ihr denn da? with chorus 4-42526 1581ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-07
5. Huguenots (Meyerbeer): Soldatenchor with chorus 4-42530 1583ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-10-07
6. Muette de Portici (Auber): Schlummerlied 65147 308al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-12
7. Muette de Portici (Auber): Barcarole with chorus 65147 309al Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-12
8. Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): O Colombina (Ständchen) 4-42531 1859ak Gramophone, Berlin 1912-11-12
9. Mignon (Thomas): Leb’ wohl, Mignon 042412 414al Gramophone, Berlin 1913-04-29
10. Barbier von Bagdad (Cornelius): Er kommt, er kommt with van Endert & von Scheele-Müller 044237 413al Gramophone, Berlin 1913-04-29
11. Siegfried (Wagner): Fühltest du nie im finst’ren Wald with Kraus 3-44124 17833L Grammophon, Berlin 1915
12. Siegfried (Wagner): Folge mir nur with Kraus 3-44125 17834L Grammophon, Berlin 1915
13. Alessandro Stradella (Flotow): An dem linken Strand des Tiber (Banditen-Duett) with Knüpfer 044274 803m Grammophon, Berlin 1915-02
14. Fra Diavolo (Auber): Banditen-Duett with Knüpfer 044275 804m  Grammophon, Berlin 1915-02
15. Siegfried (Wagner): Wir sind zur Stelle with Kraus 3-44121 17703L Grammophon, Berlin 1915-04
16. Siegfried (Wagner): Doch heisse mich das with Kraus 3-44122 17704L Grammophon, Berlin 1915-04
17. Undine (Lortzing): Im Wein ist Wahrheit with Knüpfer 3-44123 17713L Grammophon, Berlin 1915-04