Johannes Sembach

Johannes Sembach was a German tenor who studied in Vienna and later with Jean de Reszke in Paris, making his debut at the Vienna Court Opera in 1900. From 1905 to 1913 he was principal dramatic tenor at the Dresden Court Opera, where he created Aegisthus in the premiere of Elektra in 1909. In 1910 he was admired at Covent Garden as Loge and Siegmund, adding Parsifal, Lohengrin and Walther in 1914; his mezza voce was singled out for praise, as was the lyric beauty of his voice when he sang the title role of Méhul's Joseph at its London premiere. At the Metropolitan Opera he enjoyed a notable success, first as Parsifal in 1914, then as Tamino, Florestan and Adolar in Weber's Euryanthe, later turning from Siegfried to Pylades in Iphigénie en Tauride and, in 1920, learning the Wagnerian repertory in English. He returned to New York, at the Mecca Temple, in 1931, and also made successful appearances in South America.