Herbert Janssen

Herbert Janssen (Cologne, September 22 1892 – June 3 1965 in New York) was a German baritone.

Biography

Janssen, who came from a music loving family, received his first singing lessons in his early youth. Nevertheless, he studied law before deciding upon a professional singing career.

In 1922, the singer was offered his first contract at Berlin State Opera, starting with small roles but rising in hierarchy quickly: A year later, during the 1923-24 season, he appeared for the first time as Wolfram in Richard Wagner's Tannhäuser, a role that would become one of his trademarks.

Janssen remained a member of the State Opera's ensemble until 1937. During this time, he appeared as a guest at all the important opera houses and festivals in Europe:

Beginning in 1925, Janssen spent the summer months at the Wagner-Festival at the Zoppoter Waldoper. From 1926 until World War II, he regularly sang at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. Guest appearances led him to the Vienna State Opera, Nationaltheater München, Opera Garnier in Paris, Semperoper Dresden, Barcelona and Den Haag.

From 1930 to 1937, he sang at the Bayreuth Festival.

In 1937, Janssen became a member of the Nazi party [Fred K. Prieberg: Handbuch Deutsche Musiker 1933-1945, CD-ROM edition, [http://www.fred-prieberg.de] ] , but a year later he had to leave Germany and went to Buenos Aires. From 1939, on he lived in New York City, where he sang at the Metropolitan Opera until the end of his career in 1951.

He stayed in New York and was a sought-after teacher until his death in 1965.

Repertory

Herbert Janssen originally had sung an extensive and manifold repertory: He sang Mozart roles ("Conte" in Le Nozze di Figaro), Lortzing's ("Zar Peter" in Zar und Zimmermann, much Verdi ("Conte di Luna" in Il Trovatore - one of his favorite roles -, "Renato" in Un ballo in maschera, "Jago" in Otello, etc.), Bizet ("Escamillo" in Carmen), and much else.

Yet at the peak of his career - especially at the MET - he was mostly cast in his great Wagner-roles (which he himself regretted since he missed the diversity).

In his time, Janssen was considered the most important singer of the more lyrical baritone parts in Richard Wagner's operas. He was most famous for his impersonation of "Kurwenal" (Tristan und Isolde), "Amfortas" (Parsifal) and most of all "Wolfram" in Tannhäuser. There is a recording from the 1930 Bayreuth Festival with Janssen as Wolfram.

He sang the role of Don Pisarro in Arturo Toscanini's 1944 radio broadcast of Beethoven's "Fidelio", a performance which was released on records and later on CD.

But Janssen also was an important Lieder-singer - in an era when this form of art was not really appreciated.

Janssen had a soft, rich and velvety voice with an Italian timbre.

References

* Kesting, Jürgen: Die großen Sänger des 20. Jahrhunderts, 1993, ECON Verlag GmbH, Düsseldorf, ISBN 3-517-07987-1