Michael Bohnen
Encyclopedia
Franz Michael Bohnen was a German bass baritone opera singer and actor.
. He trained in opera singing at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
and with a private tutor, making his debut in 1910 at the Stadttheater Düsseldorf
. In 1912 he appeared at the Hoftheater Wiesbaden
. From 1912 onwards he was a member of the Hofoper Berlin and from 1914 onwards appeared regularly at the Bayreuther Festspiele. He served in the early years of the First World War, but was recalled to the Berliner Hofoper in 1916. In 1925 he played Baron Ochs von Lerchenau in a film of the opera Der Rosenkavalier
. After the war, Bohnen joined the Metropolitan Opera
in New York
in 1922, and spent 1933 to 1934 in Buenos Aires
. He had an affair with La Jana
and entered into a long correspondence with her, now held by his granddaughter.
In Germany he also became popular as a spoken-word actor. In 1934 he returned to Berlin, first to the Staatsoper, then from 1935 to 1945 in the Deutschen Oper Berlin
and after the end of the Second World War until 1947 as intendant of these halls (where he still sang until 1951) and as president of the Kammer der Kunstschaffenden. His time as intendant at the Städtischen Oper Berlin had to come to an end due to an accusation by his pupil, the tenor Hans Beirer
, during the denazification
process. His rehabilitation during the following years was slow, even though Beirer's accusation was quickly revealed as false. Bohnen thus died in complete poverty, with only a small wage from the city of Berlin. He died in Berlin
, where he is buried in the Friedhof Heerstraße
.
Life
Michael Bohnen was born in CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. He trained in opera singing at the Hochschule für Musik Köln
Hochschule für Musik Köln
The Cologne University of Music is a music college in Cologne, and Germany's largest academy of music.-History:The academy was founded by Ferdinand Hiller in 1850 as Conservatorium der Musik in Coeln...
and with a private tutor, making his debut in 1910 at the Stadttheater Düsseldorf
Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus
The Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus is a theatre building in Düsseldorf, with four auditoria.- External links :*...
. In 1912 he appeared at the Hoftheater Wiesbaden
Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden
The Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden is the State Theatre of the German state Hesse in the capital Wiesbaden, producing operas, plays, ballets, musicals and concerts on four stages. It is also known as Staatstheater Wiesbaden or Theater Wiesbaden...
. From 1912 onwards he was a member of the Hofoper Berlin and from 1914 onwards appeared regularly at the Bayreuther Festspiele. He served in the early years of the First World War, but was recalled to the Berliner Hofoper in 1916. In 1925 he played Baron Ochs von Lerchenau in a film of the opera Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier (1926 film)
Der Rosenkavalier is a 1926 Austrian silent film of the opera of the same name by Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal . Directed by Robert Wiene, it premiered on 10 January 1926 at the Dresden Semperoper, which had also hosted the actual opera's premiere 15 years earlier.The music during the...
. After the war, Bohnen joined the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1922, and spent 1933 to 1934 in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He had an affair with La Jana
La Jana (actress)
La Jana was an Austro-German dancer and actress.-Life and career:...
and entered into a long correspondence with her, now held by his granddaughter.
In Germany he also became popular as a spoken-word actor. In 1934 he returned to Berlin, first to the Staatsoper, then from 1935 to 1945 in the Deutschen Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper Berlin
The Deutsche Oper Berlin is an opera company located in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The resident building is also home to the Berlin State Ballet.-History:...
and after the end of the Second World War until 1947 as intendant of these halls (where he still sang until 1951) and as president of the Kammer der Kunstschaffenden. His time as intendant at the Städtischen Oper Berlin had to come to an end due to an accusation by his pupil, the tenor Hans Beirer
Hans Beirer
Hans Beirer was an Austrian heldentenor and Kammersänger. He was a regular company member at the Deutschen Oper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper and Hamburgischen Staatsoper and is best known internationally as an interpreter of the work of Wagner.-Source:* K. J. Kutsch und Leo Riemens: Großes...
, during the denazification
Denazification
Denazification was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of any remnants of the National Socialist ideology. It was carried out specifically by removing those involved from positions of influence and by disbanding or rendering...
process. His rehabilitation during the following years was slow, even though Beirer's accusation was quickly revealed as false. Bohnen thus died in complete poverty, with only a small wage from the city of Berlin. He died in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he is buried in the Friedhof Heerstraße
Friedhof Heerstraße
The Friedhof Heerstraße cemetery is located at Trakehnerallee 1 , district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf in Berlin, Germany, beneath the Olympiastadion. It covers an area of 149,650 square meters....
.
Partial filmography
- 1935: August der Starke (with Lil Dagover)
- 1939: Das unsterbliche Herz (with Heinrich George, Kristina Söderbaum u. a.)
- 1940: Der liebe Augustin (with Paul Hörbiger, Maria Andergast, Rudolf Prack u. a.)
Honours
- 1957 Großes BundesverdienstkreuzBundesverdienstkreuzThe Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the only general state decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has existed since 7 September 1951, and between 3,000 and 5,200 awards are given every year across all classes...
via Prof. Theodor HeussTheodor HeussTheodor Heuss was a liberal German politician who served as the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II from 1949 to 1959... - 1952 Goethe Preisträger
- Ehrenmitglied der Deutschen Oper Berlin
- Ehrenpensionär der Metropolitan Opera New York
- Ständige Ausstellung seines Familienwappenringes im Foyer der Metropolitan Opera New York
- Gedenktafel am Geburtshaus in Köln, Friesenwall 102
- Gedenktafel am Standort der alten Jugendstil Oper in Köln, Habsburgerring 13
- Gedenktafel am langjährigen Wohnhaus in Berlin, Kurfürstendamm 50
- Würdigung mit der Widmung einer Straße in Berlin Neukölln: „Michael-Bohnen-Ring“
- Ehrengrab auf dem Prominentenfriedhof Berlin Heerstraße.
External links
- Michael Bohnen on filmportal.
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0092128/
- https://portal.d-nb.de/opac.htm?query=Woe%3D116232862&method=simpleSearch
- http://www.cyranos.ch/smbohn-d.htm
- Photographs and literature on Michael Bohnen