ROBERT PHILIPP (OFFENBACH AM MAIN, 21 NOVEMBER, 1852 – BERLIN, 12 AUGUST, 1933)
Robert Philipp began his career as an actor, performing at the Walhalla Theater in Berlin starting in 1870 and later at the Belle Alliance Theater in 1877. He transitioned into operetta singing, appearing at the Wallner Theater in 1882-83 and returning to the Walhalla Theater from 1884 to 1887. During this time, he toured Russia with the Hasse Operetta Society in 1882 and also performed at Berlin’s Friedrich Wilhelm Theater in the 1880s.
Encouraged by Count Hochberg, the director of the Berlin Court Opera, Philipp shifted his focus to opera. He made his operatic debut in 1890, stepping in as Don José in Carmen at the Berlin Court Opera. His performance earned him a permanent position, and he remained with the company—later known as the State Opera—for 40 years.
Initially celebrated as a lyric tenor, he excelled in roles like Don José in Carmen, Wilhelm Meister in Mignon, Faust in Gounod’s opera, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, and Fra Diavolo in Auber’s opera. Later in his career, he transitioned to buffo and character roles.
Philipp was a regular participant in premieres at the Berlin Court Opera. Notable appearances included:
Angla by Ferdinand Hummel (1894)
Der Evangelimann by Wilhelm Kienzl (1895)
Don Quixote (1898)
Die Beichte by Hummel (1900)
Heilmar, der Narr by Kienzl (1902)
Der Roland von Berlin by Leoncavallo (1904)
Die Heirat wider Willen by Engelbert Humperdinck (1905).
He also appeared in The Rose of Pontevedra by Josef Foerster at the Court Theatre in Gotha (1893). His guest engagements included performances at prestigious venues such as Dresden, Wiesbaden, Weimar, Schwerin, Munich, Frankfurt, and the Theater des Westens in Berlin. He also toured internationally, performing in St. Petersburg and Moscow.
Philipp remained active at the Berlin Opera until 1930, transitioning to smaller roles in his later years. Alongside his stage career, he taught singing in Berlin, where he was highly regarded as a pedagogue.
Philipp was briefly married to soprano Marie Dietrich (1865–1940), who was also a member of the Berlin Court Opera. His career spanned decades, and his legacy was firmly rooted in Berlin, where he achieved his greatest successes.
Chronology of some appearances
1880-90 Berlin Friedrich-Wilhelm-Theater
1890-1930 Berlin Hofoper
1883 Berlin Wallner-Theater
1884-1887 Berlin Walhalla Theater
1893 Gotha Hoftheater
1897 Schwerin Hoftheater
1899 Wiesbaden Hoftheater
1899 Berlin Theater des Westens
1900 Dresden Hoftheater
1902 Frankfurt a. M Oper
1902 Berlin Theater des Westens
1903 Dresden Hoftheater
1906 Weimar Hoftheater
1916 Munich Hoftheater
TRACKLIST
Fledermaus (Strauss): Nein, mit solchen Advokaten (w. Herzog & J Lieban) 044059, 200s G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Dialog, act 3 (w. Dietrich, J Lieban, Arnold & Vallentin) 41974 3058r G&T, Berlin 1907-05/07
Fledermaus (Strauss): Dieser Anstand, wie manierlich (w. Herzog) 044061 199½s G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Brüderlein und Schwesterlein (w. Herzog, Dietrich, von Scheele-Müller, Arnold, Begemann, Ensemble & chorus) 044062 202s G&T
Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): Bajazzo, mein Gemahl (w. Dietrich) XX76047, xxB4589 Odeon
Evangelimann (Kienzl): Selig sind, die Verfolgung leiden X34505 Bx967? Odeon
Carmen (Bizet): Hier an dem Herzen treu geborgen X34506 Bx968 Odeon
Evangelimann (Kienzl): Salve Regina (w. Dietrich & chorus) 044065 187s G&T
Evangelimann (Kienzl): Hab’ Dank, du Gute (w. von Scheele-Müller & chorus) 044066 88s G&T
Freischütz (Weber): Nein, länger trag’ ich nicht die Qualen… Durch die Wälder X34509 Bx971 Odeon
Walküre (Wagner): Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond X34575 xB1082 Odeon
Zar und Zimmermann (Lortzing): Lebe wohl, mein flandrisch Mädchen (w. chorus) X-22684 Zonophone
Evangelimann (Kienzl): O Zitterbart, o Zitterbart! (w. chorus) X-22685 Zonophone
Fledermaus (Strauss): Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (w. von Scheele-Müller & Ensemble) 2-44217 3033r G&T
Waffenschmied (Lortzing): War einst ein junger Springinsfeld (w. chorus) 3-42796 2905r G&T
Waffenschmied (Lortzing): Man wird ja nur einmal geboren 3-42797 2906r G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Dialog, act 2 (w. Herzog, Dietrich, von Scheele-Müller, Arnold & Begemann) 41972 3036r G&T, Berlin 1907-05/07
Carmen (Bizet): Hier an dem Herzen treu geborgen 14186 Lyrophon
Fliegende Holländer (Wagner): Mit Gewitter und Sturm (w. chorus) 14196 Lyrophon
Fledermaus (Strauss): Es scheint fast, als empfinden Sie (w. Herzog & J Lieban) 2-44221 3016r G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Ich stehe voll Zagen (w. Herzog & J Lieban) 2-44220 3015r G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Finale act 3 mit Dialog (w. Herzog, J Lieban, von Scheele-Müller, Arnold, Begemann, Ensemble & chorus) 2-44222 3034r G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Im Feuerstrom der Reben (w. Dietrich, von Scheele-Müller, Ensemble & chorus) 2-44218 3031r G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Genug damit, genug (w. Herzog, Dietrich, von Scheele-Müller, Arnold, Begemann, Ensemble & chorus) 2-44219 3032r G&T
Fledermaus (Strauss): Dialog, act 2 (w. Herzog, Dietrich, von Scheele-Müller, Arnold & Begemann) 42972 3036r G&T
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