Rolf Apreck

Rolf Apreck(9 February 1928 – 21 May 1989) was a German operatictenor.

Life

Training and engagement in Halle

Born in Leipzig, Apreck was the son of a bank director and studied singing at theUniversity of Music and Theatre Leipzigfrom 1946 to 1949. During this time, he was already singingoratoriosolo parts in the University Church. His first engagement took him to Halle/Saale, he was a member of the ensemble of theHandel Festival, Halle.At the same time his career as a concert and oratorio singer began. Guest performances with theThomanerchorand theDresdner Kreuzchor,Lieder recitals and concerts took him all over the world. In 1956, he was engaged by the Landestheater Halle, where he made his debut with the part of Don Ottavio inDon Giovanni.

Chamber singer in Leipzig

In 1959, Apreck was awarded the title "Kammersänger"and the National Prize of theGerman Democratic Republic.From the 1959/60 season, he was engaged asHeldentenorat theLeipzig Opera,whose ensemble he was a member of until 1989.

At the opening of the new Leipzig Opera House, Apreck sang Tigrane in Handel'sRadamisto,at his side aming othersHanne-Lore Kuhse,Sigrid KehlandBruno Aderhold.During the years of his Leipzig engagement, he sang all the great roles of his profession such as Max inDer Freischütz,Don José inCarmen,the Emperor inDie Frau ohne Schattenin the legendary production byJoachim Herzas well as Florestan inFidelio,Bacchus inAriadne auf Naxos,Riccardo inUn ballo in mascheraand Alvaro inLa forza del destino.

Apreck took on numerous roles from the opera and concert literature of the musical modern age. He sang the tenor part in the premiere of the requiemDeutsches MisererebyPaul Dessauin Leipzig in 1966. His interpretation was also considered outstanding as Pierre in Prokofiev'sWar and Peace.Towards the end of his career he sang character roles in Zimermann'sDie wundersame Schustersfrauand in Janáček'sThe Makropulos Affair.

Apreck died in Leipzig at the age of 61.

Guest appearances

Apreck had guest appearances at theStaatsoper Unter den Lindenand at theKomische Oper Berlin.In 1965, Apreck also gave a guest performance at theBolshoi Theatreas Erik in theFlying Dutchman.As a concert singer, he performed in West Germany, Switzerland and England.

Film and audio recordings

In 1964, he took over the singing part of the role of Erik in the DEFA feature filmDer fliegende Holländer.The role itself was played byHerbert Graedtke.Apreck recorded a number of works of classical and contemporary music literature for radio as well as for domestic and foreign record companies with all major Leipzig conductors.

Recordings

Complete recording:

• Johann Sebastian Bach::Cantatas and other vocal works (Ramin, LeipzigerThomanerchor)
• Georges Bizet:Carmen
• Paul Dessau:Die Verurteilung des Lukullus
• Mozart:Die Entführung aus dem Serail
• Mozart:Great Mass
• Mozart: Cantatas and other vocal work:Requiem
• Heinrich Schütz:Lukas-Passion
• Bedřich Smetana:Die verkaufte Braut
• Handel:Radamisto– With H.-L. Kuhse, S. Kehl, H. Kaphahn, R. Süß, G. Leib conducted H.-T. Margraf, Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Händel-Festspielorchester Halle (3 CDs at Berlin Classics.

Further reading

• Horst Seeger:Musiklexikon Personen A–Z/Breitkopf & HärtelLeipzig (1981), p. 36.

External links

• Short biography(engl.)