Siegmund Nimsgern: Difference between revisions

By /

Line 164: Line 164:

}}</ref>

}}</ref>

<ref name=”Bayreuth”>{{cite book

<ref name=”Bayreuth”>{{cite

| url = https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/fsdb/mitwirkende/siegmund-nimsgern/

| url = https://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/fsdb/mitwirkende/siegmund-nimsgern/

| title = Siegmund Nimsgern

| title = Siegmund Nimsgern

German bass-baritone (1940–2025)

Siegmund Nimsgern (14 January 1940 – 14 September 2025) was a German bass-baritone who made an international career. He appeared at the La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and portrayed Wotan in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival from 1983 to 1986. He was also known for performing works by Bach in concert and for recordings, including cantata cycles with Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Helmuth Rilling.

Life and career

Nimsgern was born in Sankt Wendel, Saarland, on 14 January 1940.[1] As a boy he had a soprano voice.[2] After leaving school in 1960 he studied musicology, German and philosophy at the University of Saarbrücken,[3] He studied voice and musical education at the Hochschule für Musik Saar with Sibylle Fuchs, Jakob Stämpfli and Paul Lohmann.[3][4] He won the 1965 International Vocal Competition ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin.[3]

He made his debut at the Saarländisches Staatstheater in Saarbrücken in 1967 with Lionel in Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans.[1] In 1971, he went to the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf and Duisburg. One of his early successes was Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen.[2]

Nimsgern performed at La Scala in Milan,[3] in 1973 at the Opéra de Montréal and the San Francisco Opera. He appeared at the Royal Opera House in London as Amfortas in Wagner’s Parsifal in 1973. He performed the role at the Paris Opéra in 1974, Kreon in Stravinsky’s Oedipus rex from 1978, and both Telramund in Wagner’s Lohengrin and Pizarro in Beethoven’s Fidelio in 1982. He appeared at the Orange Festival from 1976 to 1979 and in 1989, and at the Arena di Verona in 1980. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York as Pizarro, returning for Jochanaan in Salome by R. Strauss.[3] He performed at the 1989 Ludwigsburg Festival as Kaspar in Weber’s Der Freischütz and at the Vienna State Opera as Dr. Vigelius in Schreker’s Der ferne Klang.[3] He performed as Altair in Die ägyptische Helena by R. Strauss at the Megaron hall in Athen in 1993.[3][5] Nimsgern also performed at the Covent Garden in London.[3]

Nimsgern as Wotan in Bayreuth in 1985

From 1983 to 1986, Nimsgern appeared as Wotan in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Bayreuth Festival, conducted by Georg Solti and directed by Peter Hall.[3][6]

He recorded numerous operas including Marschner’s Der Vampyr, Weinberger’s Schwanda the Bagpiper, Flotow’s Martha, Pergolesi’s La serva padrona, and Wagner’s Parsifal. He took part in a 1989 recording of Wagner’s Lohengrin that won a Grammy Award.[7] He recorded Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, conducted by John Pritchard.

From the beginning, Nimsgern focused on singing in concert, especially in works by Johann Sebastian Bach that he performed with leading conductors in Europe and the United States.[3] He took part in recordings of Bach cantata cycles with Nikolaus Harnoncourt[8] and Helmuth Rilling.[9] He also recorded for the radio.[3]

Personal life

Nimsgern lived with his family in Sankt Ingbert, Saarland.[10] He and his wife Mechthild[11] had a son, the musical theatre composer Frank Nimsgern [de].[12]

Nimsgerm died in Sankt Ingbert on 14 September 2025, at the age of 85.[3][6][12]

Writings

  • Nimsgern, Siegmund; Strahler, Elisabeth (2007). Rampenfieber : Stimmlippenbekenntnisse (in German). St. Ingbert: Wassermann Verl. ISBN 978-3-928030-65-6. OCLC 985545884.

Discography

  • Blacher, Boris, Der Großinquisitor / Leipzig Radio Chorus, Dresden Philharmonic, Herbert Kegel, Naxos, OCLC 913824269[13]
  • Simon, Hans (1983), Siegmund Nimsgern singt Hans Simon, CBS, OCLC 916380846
  • Wagner, Richard, Lohengrin / Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti, OCLC 52233905
  • Bach, Johann Sebastian, Sacred works / Münchener Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter, Deutsche Grammophon, OCLC 1031705331
  • Wagner, Richard, Der Ring des Nibelungen / Staatskapelle Dresden, Marek Janowski, Sony, OCLC 872628600
  • Pflüger, Hans Georg, Memento mori / Capella Cracoviensis, Roland Bader, Cadenza, OCLC 1518034509
  • Schoenberg, Arnold, Gurre-Lieder / London Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Boulez, Sony, OCLC 1200236566
  • Bach, Johann Sebastian, Mass in B minor / Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Helmuth Rilling, RCA, OCLC 1467014579
  • Pflüger, Hans Georg, Liederzyklen, Bayer Records, OCLC 1527809684
  • Mahler, Gustav (2017), Symphony No. 8 / Vienna Philharmonic, Lorin Maazel, Sony, OCLC 1023589556
  • Bach, Johann Sebastian (1960), Cantatas Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Telefunken, OCLC 873139116
  • Telemann, Georg Philipp (1975), Pimpinone oder Die ungleiche Heyrath / Ensemble Florilegium Musicumm, Hans Ludwig Hirsch, Teldec, OCLC 985604809[14]
  • Bach, Johann Sebastian (1975), Les Grandes cantates : Cantates BWV 41, 48, 69, 96, 113, 120, 125, 146, 156 / Gächinger Kantorei, Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, Rilling, Costallat, OCLC 761564425
  • Bruckner, Anton, Windhaager Messe / Nürnberger Symphoniker, Wolfgang Riedelbauch, Colosseum, OCLC 473299643
  • Wagner, Richard (1981), Parsifal / Herbert von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon, OCLC 978578344
  • Humperdinck, Engelbert (1989), Hänsel und Gretel / Gürzenich Orchestra, John Pritchard, CBS, OCLC 28326721

References

  1. ^ a b Kutsch, K.-J.; Riemens, Leo (2012). “Nimsgern, Siegfried”. Großes Sängerlexikon (in German) (4th ed.). De Gruyter. p. 3366. ISBN 978-3-59-844088-5.
  2. ^ a b Fischer, Volkmar (16 September 2025). “Nachruf Siegmund Nimsgern : Große Stimme und großes Herz”. BR (in German). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l “Siegmund Nimsgern”. Bayreuther Festspiele (in German). Bayreuth Festival. 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  4. ^ Kesting, Jürgen (14 January 2020). “Bass-Bariton wird 80: Dem Schurken eine Seele geben”. FAZ (in German). Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  5. ^ “Vorstellungen mit Siegmund Nimsgern”. Spielplanarchiv der Wiener Staatsoper (in German). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b Schwambach, Oliver (15 September 2025). “Zum Tod von Siegmund Nimsgern”. Saarbrücker Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  7. ^ “Siegmund Nimsgern”. grammy.com. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  8. ^ “Complete Cantatas – Original LP’s on Telefunken (1971-1989)”. Bach Cantatas. 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  9. ^ “Complete Cycle of Sacred Cantatas on Hänssler – 1st Edition on CD (Vols. 1-23)”. Bach Cantatas. 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  10. ^ Bastuck, Thomas (16 September 2025). “Nachruf Siegmund Nimsgern – St. Ingberter Opernsänger im Alter von 85 Jahren verstorben”. Stadt St. Ingbert (in German). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  11. ^ Kotz, Peter (1988). “Zu Gast beim IBS / Siegmund Nimsgern” (PDF). Richard Wagner Verband Munich (in German). p. 7. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  12. ^ a b Marmit, Jochen (15 September 2025). ““Ein Weltstar, der nie abgehoben oder elitär war”“. SR (in German). Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  13. ^ Godfrey, Paul Corfield (13 August 2013). “Boris Blacher (1903-1975) / Der Grossinquisitor”. musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  14. ^ Kemp, Lindsay (1996). “Telemann Pimpinone”. Gramophone. Retrieved 19 September 2025.

Must Read

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top