Emanuel List (Bass)

Born: March 22, 1886^[1] - Vienna, Austria
Died: June 21, 1967 - Vienna, Austria

The noted Austrian-born American bass, Emanuel List (real name, Flessing), was a boy chorister at the Theater-an-der-Wien. Following voice training with Steger in Vienna, he toured Europe as a member of a comic vocal quartet. He went to the USA and appeared in vaudeville, burlesque, and minstrel shows. After further vocal studies with Zuro in New York, he returned to Vienna in 1920.

In 1922 Emanuel List made his operatic debut as Charles Gounod's Méphistophélès at the Volksoper. He then sang at Berlin's Städtische Oper (1923-1925) and State Opera (1924-1933), London's Covent Garden (1925; 1934-1936), the Salzburg Festivals (1931-1935), and the Bayreuth Festival (1933). List made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York in December 1933, as Hermann in Tannhäuser. While remaining on its roster until 1948 [16 seasons (1933-1948, 1949-1950), 449 performances, 17 roles, 16 works), he also appeared in San Francisco and Chicago (1935-1937) and gave lieder recitals. He was again on the Metropolitan Opera's roster in 1949-1950. In 1952 he returned to Vienna.

Emanuel List was especially admired for the rich vocal resources he brought to such roles as Osmin, the Commendatore, Sarastro, Rocco, King Marke, Hagen, Pogner, Hunding, and Baron Ochs.

[1] This birth date is according to Baker's (see below). Opernlexikon states he was born in 1888 or, according to other sources, in 1890.

Source: Baker’s Biographical Dictionary of 20^th Century Classical Musicians (1997); OPERAlmanac Mailing List (by Walter R. Lonis, March 2004)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (February 2003, October 2004); Johannes Honigmann (June 2006)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Erich Kleiber

Bass

BWV 245

Links to other Sites

Wagnerian singers: Emanuel List

Singers: Emanuel List Signed Postcard Photograph