Descended from a family
of an old businessmans from Hamburg. At first he
wanted to become a dentist. He studied singing in Hamburg and perfected his
vocal uner Enrico Rosario in Milan. He began his stage career in the 1912-1913
season, appearing at the Stadttheater in Bochum. Then he was engaged in
1913-1915 seasons by the Stadttheater in Wilhelmshaven. After the First World
War he took up his career and in 1919 sang at the Stadttheater of Nuremberg. He
joined in the 1921-1925 seasons to the Stadttheater (Opernhaus) in Hamburg. In
the 1925-1926 season he belonged to the Berlin State Opera, then turned to the operetta
repertoire and sang in different operetta stages of the German capital, thus in
the 1927-1928 season at the Theater des Westen in Berlin, in the 1930-1931
season at the Theater in Admiralspalast, in the 1935-1936 season at the Berlin
Metropoltheater (here in 1935 in the premiere of ‘’Ball der Nationen’’ by Fred
Raymond) and in the 1937-1938 season at the Theater des Volkes. In 1927 he had
a sensational success in Berlin in the operetta ‘’Eine Frau von Format’’
opposite Fritzi Massary as a partner. In the 1928-1932 seasons he guested at
the Theater in Wien and at the Johann Strauss Theater in Wien. In 1938 he was
to be heard at the Raimund Theater in Wien. At the Theater in Wien he sang in
1931 in the premiere of F. Lehár’s operetta ‘’Schön ist die Welt’’. In Berlin he sang in 1928 with
Vera Schwarz in ‘’La Barberina’’ of Ascher. He counted as a favorite singer of
Franz Lehár. He sang with great success
the following parts in F. Lehár’s operettas: Danilo in ‘’Lustigen Witwe’’, Titelhelden in ‘’Paganini’’, Goethe in
‘’Friederike’’ and Armand im ‘’Grafen von Luxemburg’’. His operatic repertoire
included Don José in ‘’Carmen’’, Max in ‘’Freischütz’’, Rodolfo in ‘’La
Bohème’’, Pinkerton in ‘’Madama Butterfly’’, count Almaviva in ‘’Il Barbiere di
Siviglia’’. He also guested in Paris, London and the USA. Since 1930 he
performed as film singer (‘’Frasquita’’,
‘’A song for you’’, ‘’Der Bettelstudent’’ in 1931 with Jarmila Novotná).
His first wife was an operetta singer Friedel Bollmann. His daughter Hannelore
Bollmann was a known actress.
Chronology of some appearances
1912-1913 Bochum Stadttheater
1913-1915 Wilhelmshaven Stadttheater
1919 Nuremberg Stadttheater
1921-1925 Hamburg Stadttheater
1925-1926 Berlin State Opera
1927-1928 Berlin Theater des Westen
1928-1932 Wien Theater
1928-1932 Johann Strauss Theater
1930-1931 Berlin Admiralspalast Theater
1935-1936 Berlin Metropoltheater
1937-1938 Berlin Theater des Volkes
1938 Wien Raimund Theater
RECORDINGS FOR SALE
Gloria
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Addio alla madre 10557a
Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagni): Siciliana 10557b
Carmen (Bizet): Il fior 27630a
Odeon, Berlin 1926-03-05 (ac)
Trovatore (Verdi): Duo with Sabine Kalter 80460 7437
Trovatore (Verdi): Mal reggendo with Sabine Kalter 80461 74378
Homokord
Fanciulla del West (Puccini): Che'lla mi creda 4-8849 52349
Gioconda (Ponchielli): Cielo e mar 4-8849 52350
Forza del Destino (Verdi): Solenne in quest'ora with Manfred Lewandowsky 4-8907 52482
Pescatori di Perle (Bizet): Del tempio al limitar with Manfred Lewandowsky 4-8907 52483
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Bimba non piangere with Gita Alpar 4-9035 2-53033
Madama Butterfly (Puccini): Quest’obi pomposa with Gita Alpar 4-9035 2-53034
Electrola
Mignon (Thomas): Addio, Mignon E.G. 390 8-42021
Der Postillon von Lonjumeau (Adam): Postillon-Lied E.G. 390 8-42022
