He studied under Frau Pockal in Berlin and made his debut in 1910 at Komischen Oper of Berlin, in the 1911-12 season he appeared at Kurfürstenoper of Berlin and then was engaged in the 1912-14 seasons by the Deutschen Opernhaus in Berlin . Since 1914 he was a member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York (beginning role: Majordomo in ‘’Rosenkavalier’’), to which he belonged till 1918 and then again from 1922 to 1930. He sang at the Metropolitan Opera not only Tenor-Buffo and Comprimario roles; but also David in ‘’Meistersingers’’ and the Mime in ‘’Siegfried’’ (his star roles). He appeared at the Metropolitan Opera also in the premieres of the operas ‘’Madame Sans-Gêne’’ of Giordano (25. 1. 1915), ‘’Goyescas’’ of Granados (28. 1. 1916) and ‘’The Canterbury Pilgrims’’ of de Koven (1917). He retired from the stage in 1930. He was also a respectable concert singer.
Chronology of some appearances
1910 Berlin Komischen Oper
1911-1912 Berlin Kurfürstenoper
1912-1914 Berlin Deutschen Opernhaus
1914-1918 New York Metropolitan Opera
1922-1930 New York Metropolitan Opera
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Ständchen (Schubert) E5224 59634
Rienzi (Wagner): Allmacht'ger Vater E5221 59678
Roslein, Roslein Rot (Folk song) with Sembach, Goritz and Braun E3515 43950
Banner 1921
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Vesti la giubba 2055-B
Emerson 1921
L’Ebrea (Halevy): Rachele, allor che Iddio 13191
National Music Lovers 1923
Aida (Verdi): Celeste Aida (as Brefelli) 1025
Victor, Camden NJ
Undine (Lortzing): Vater, Mutter, Schwestern, Brüder 73276 B26157-3
Victor, Camden NJ
Freischütz (Weber): Durch die Wälder, durch die Auen 68667
Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land 68667 C30212 C30211
Lohengrin (Wagner): In fernem Land 68667 C30212 C30211