Born: August 8, 1908 - Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Died: January 12, 1997 - Niederkassel, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
The German baritone and singing teacher, Clemens Kaiser-Breme, studied theatre and music; in addition received singing training from the pedagogue Albert Fischer and improved his finances as an occasional interpreter at Berliner Rundfunk. At the advice of the music teacher, he finally devoted himself entirely to singing.
Clemens Kaiser-Breme made his debut in 1931 in Dortmund in a performance of J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) by. In 1932 he began his stage work at the Landestheater von Coburg and then, from 1933 to 1941, at the Stadttheater von Essen. From 1942 to 1944 he was engaged at the Staatstheater von Karlsruhe. He has made guest appearances in Berlin. After World War II, he essentially limited himself to working as a concert, oratorio and Lieder singer, with a particular inclination towards W.A. Mozart, an activity that had been in the foreground even during his stage years. In addition, he worked as a valued pedagogue at the Folkwang-Musikhochschule Essen; many important singers owe their training to him. Among his pupils: Riitta Pietarinen (Soprano), Irma Urrila (Soprano), Tapani Valtasaari (Baritone).
Clemens Kaiser-Breme's most important opera roles included the title role in George Frideric Handel's Julius Caesar, Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Germont-père in La Traviata, Lescaut in Puccini's Manon Lescaut, Heerrufer in Lohengrin and Kaspar in W.Egk's Zaubergeige. In the concert hall he mastered an extensive repertoire, which included excellent parts in Baroque music works (J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel).
Since 1928 he was a member of the Katholischen Studentenverbindung A.V. Hansea Berlin. Honours: Cross of Merit of the Bundesrepublik Deutschland (1978); Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (1987).
Recordings: Polydor (opera roles), DGG (Orfeo by Monteverdi). |