Joseph Karl Ambrosch

Joseph Karl Ambrosch was a Czech tenor opera singer and composer.

Early life

Born in Český Krumlov, Ambrosch lived in Berlin as a tenor opera singer since 1791. Since 1792 he has been part of the ensemble of the Berlin Royal National Theater, which August Wilhelm Iffland had led since 1796. Ambrosch appeared in plays as well as in operas and musical plays. One of his most successful roles was that of the landowner Weller in the German version of Ferdinando Paer's Poche ma buone, ossia Le donne cambiate, Der lustige Schuster, oder: Die verwandelten Weiber. In Mozart's The Magic Flute he sang Papageno over 21 times between 1806 and 1812. He mostly played smaller supporting roles in plays. In Julius von Voss's comedy Künstlers Erdenwallen he played the role of a Jew.
Together with the singer and actor, he published the three-part collection Freymauer Lieder, which contained works by numerous contemporary composers, including a large number of songs composed by himself. Both were members of the Berlin Masonic lodge Zur Beständigkeit. Ambrosch died in Berlin in 1822, aged 63.