Herbert Ernst Groh

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Herbert Ernst Groh (born May 27, 1906 in Lucerne ; † July 28 (according to the Great Singer Lexicon July 29 ) 1982 in Norderstedt near Hamburg ) was a German singer ( tenor ). His singing style was clearly based on Richard Tauber's role model .

Life

Groh's father was German, his mother Swiss. He performed for the first time at the age of 13. After studying in Milan , Zurich and Munich , he made his debut in 1926 at the Theater von Darmstadt , of which he was a member until 1928. Engagements in Frankfurt a. M. and Cologne. The radio quickly became aware of him. Groh started in 1930 at the first Hamburg broadcaster, NORAG , and was under contract with the German broadcaster from 1933 . As early as 1927 he made his first recordings in Italy under the name Ernesto Groh. In 1930 an exclusive contract with the Berlin Lindström Group followed. After the seizure of power , he often appeared in operetta concerts in Berlin's Admiralspalast from 1933 to 1936 .

During the Second World War he took part in the German troop support and made recordings until 1944 (including with the orchestra of Adolf Steimel ), and from 1946 toured many European countries with Robert Stolz .

His operatic career lasted only about three years, his career as a record and radio singer, however, until the 1960s. His main focus was on operetta and upscale light music . In 1965 he sang the main male role in the WDR production of the operetta Das Hollandweibchen by Emmerich Kálmán, conducted by Franz Marszalek . He left around 400 recordings for posterity, consisting of opera arias, folk songs and operetta recordings.

Quotes

“… Among them [the Carl Beines singing students, editor's note. V.] a Swiss singer named Herbert-Ernst Groh, who twenty-five years later will not only be an ardent Nazi, with which he will never be lonely in his profession, but also should have a special, strange relationship with Richard Tauber, who is then larger than life. Groh is selected by the Reich Chamber of Music to sing Tauber's most famous songs. Technically it sounds so similar, which can be explained by the training provided by Carl Beines. The original sings a lot better, but Tauber is banned from appearing, lives in emigration like so many greats, is ostracized as a half-Jew, his records are no longer allowed to be played. The driving out of the real professionals was not only the chance for terrible amateurs in music. Because Tauber's voice seemed so inaccessible, it became a myth all the more. The Nazis therefore reacted with Groh, the pure Aryan Tauber blend. But the people would not forget the real Richard ... "

- Michael Jürgs, p. 164

"... Beines student Herbert-Ernst Groh, a talented tenor and Tauber copyist, became the regime's official troubadour as a plagiarist ..."

- Michael Jürgs, p. 281

Filmography

Sound carrier

Several of his CDs are available in stores.

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Groh, Herbert Ernst
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss singer (tenor)
DATE OF BIRTH May 27, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH Lucerne
DATE OF DEATH July 28, 1982
Place of death Norderstedt near Hamburg