Konrad Rupf
Konrad Rupf was a German operatic bass-baritone and teacher. He made his debut in 1955 at the Staatstheater Cottbus, moved to the Opernhaus Chemnitz in 1958, to the Leipzig Opera in 1980, and made guest appearances around Europe. He performed a repertoire of 127 roles, including title roles from Handel's Poro to Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Paul Dessau's Puntila, and roles in world premieres. He taught voice at the Musikhochschule Leipzig from 1980 to 1990. His last leading role was Tevje in Fiddler on the Roof, which premiered in 2000.
Life
Born in near Zwickau, Rupf first received private singing lessons in Weimar and studied voice at the Musikhochschule Weimar. He completed his studies at the Musikhochschule Berlin with J. M. Hauschild. He received his first permanent engagement in 1955 at the Staatstheater Cottbus where he made his debut as Dulcamara in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore. He remained there until 1958, appearing in 21 roles.Rupf moved to the Opernhaus Chemnitz, where he performed both serious and buffo roles, including Osmin in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Don Pizarro in Beethoven's Fidelio, Kaspar in Weber's Der Freischütz, Hans Sachs in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and title roles in Handel's Poro, re dell'Indie, Hindemith's Mathis der Maler, Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Paul Dessau's Puntila.
In 1980, he was engaged by the Leipzig Opera, where he remained until 1994. His roles there included Hans Sachs, Marke in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde, Gurnemanz in Parsifal for the 1982/83 season, and Don Alfonso in Mozart's Così fan tutte. He officially retired in 1994, and was made an honorary member of the Leipzig Opera.
Rupf's repertoire comprised 127 opera roles. He made several guest appearances at the Staatsoper Dresden. In March 1973, he performed there in the world premiere of Udo Zimmermann's , and in 1999 as Feri von Kerekes in Léhar's Die Csárdásfürstin, directed by Peter Konwitschny. He appeared as a guest at the Komische Oper Berlin, such as Zaccaria in Verdi's Nabucco in 1988, at the Hungarian State Opera House and at the Slovak National Theatre. In July 1989, he appeared in the world premiere of Graf Mirabeau by Siegfried Matthus at the Berlin State Opera. In 1993, he was Hans Sachs again at the Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi in Triest. In 1996, he appeared at the Anhaltisches Theater in Kurt Weill's Der Silbersee, and from 2000 until a final performance in 2003 as Tevje in Der Fiedler auf dem Dach at the.
Rupf was also a frequent concert singer. From 1980 to 1990, he held a teaching position at the Musikhochschule Leipzig. In 1980, he was awarded the title Kammersänger. In 1985 he received the National Prize of the GDR for outstanding vocal and performing achievements.