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Ivan Rebroff

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For the Kyrgyz politician, see Ivan Rebrov.

Ivan Rebroff
Rebroff in 2006
Rebroff in 2006
Background information
Birth nameHans-Rolf Rippert
Born(1931-07-31)31 July 1931
Berlin, Germany
Died27 February 2008(2008-02-27) (aged 76)
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
GenresInternational music, folk music
OccupationSinger
Years active1968–2008

Ivan Rebroff (born Hans-Rolf Rippert; 31 July 1931 – 27 February 2008) was a German-born vocalist, allegedly of Russian ancestry,[1] who rose to prominence for his distinct and extensive vocal range of four and a half octaves, ranging from the soprano to bass registers.[2] An imposing figure on stage, usually bearded and dressed in Cossack clothing, his presence was enhanced by his height, being over 2 metres tall.

An example of this vocal range can be heard towards the end in a rendition of 'Im Tiefen Keller'; he soars up to a clear D4 in falsetto before singing in chest voice two octaves down to a sustained F1.[3]

Life and career

Rebroff performing in 2006

Rebroff was born on 31 July 1931 in Berlin[4] as Hans-Rolf Rippert to German parents. His parents were Paul Rippert, an engineer born in 1897 in Liebenwerda, and Luise Fenske, born in Bydgoszcz (then part of Prussian Bromberg). He claimed Russian descent, and while often disputed, this has never been totally refuted. In a 1989 interview with Izvestia, he said "according to documents I am Ivan Pavlovich Rebroff" (Russian: Иван Павлович Ребров).[5]

He studied singing at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. Although his knowledge and pronunciation of Russian was imperfect, he became famous for singing Russian folk songs, but also performed opera, light classics and folk songs from many other countries. He was known on stage for his gusto. He performed over 6,000 concerts in his career, including a two-year seven-day-a-week stint at the French opera, singing and acting, among other greats, the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. When he was well into his seventies, Rebroff still performed 13 concerts in 21 days on an Australian tour.[6]

Ivan Rebroff described himself as international, the "connection between East and West". He was named an honorary citizen of the Greek Sporades island of Skopelos, his domicile.[7] Rebroff was homosexual.[8]

As well as being a phenomenal singer, videos such as this and photos such as this suggest that he was at least a reasonable violinist and keyboardist (he is pictured playing a church organ but may have also played the piano). Rebroff sang and was able to converse to a lesser or greater extent in several languages in addition to his native German; Russian, French, Italian, English, and Greek. {{Citation needed|date=July 2023))

He died in Frankfurt after a long illness. Four days after his death, his brother Horst Rippert, who is nine years his senior (and by his own unsubstantiated accounts shot down Antoine de Saint Exupéry during World War II), claimed part of Rebroff's vast fortune.[9]

LP discography

Rebroff performing in 2006

1967

  • Folk Songs from Old Russia (Volksweisen aus dem alten Russland)

1968

  • Folk Songs from Old Russia Volume II (Volksweisen aus dem alten Russland 2)
  • Original russische Liebeslieder
  • Na Sdarowje (Ivan sings about Vodka and Wine)
  • Slawische Seele (Compilation album shared with Tatjana Ivanow & Dunja Rajter)

1969

  • Beim Klang der Balalaika, Au son des Balalaikas (French version of Beim Klang der Balalaika)
  • Favourites from Mother Russia
  • Abendglocken (Compilation)
  • Russische Weihnacht mit Ivan Rebroff
  • Ivan Rebroff (Includes Lara's Theme and other Popular Melodies)
  • A Russian Christmas (English version of Russische Weihnacht?)
  • Un Violon sur le toit (Soundtrack of French production of Fiddler on the Roof)
  • Russische Party ("Live" album)
  • Festliche Weihnacht (with Regensburger Domspatzen - Boys' Choir)
  • A Festive Christmas (Festliche Weihnacht re-issue)

1970

  • Somewhere My Love (English-language versions)
  • Kosaken müssen reiten (German-language versions)
  • Ivan Rebroff (Compilation?)

1971

  • The Best of Ivan Rebroff (Compilation)
  • Ivan Rebroff Sing vir Ons (South African Album-Gold Disk Award)
  • Vir Jou Suid-Afrika (South African album)
  • Ivan Rebroff (Opera)
  • Kalinka (Soundtrack from L'Homme qui vient de la Nuit)
  • Mein Russland, Du bist schön (German-language versions)
  • Starportrait (Compilation)
  • Zwischen Donau und Don (with Dunja Rajter)

1972

  • Erinnerungen an Russland (Russian-language versions)
  • The Best of Ivan Rebroff Volume II (Compilation)

1973

  • Lieder der Welt (Folk songs from around the world)
  • Mein Altes Russland (lushly arranged Russian folk songs)
  • 25 Greatest Russian Melodies (Compilation with Tatiana Ivanov (2 duets))
  • 20 Greatest Hits (Compilation)

1974

  • Russische Party 2 ("Live" album)
  • Memories of Russia

1975

  • Ivan Rebroff at Carnegie Hall (Live at Carnegie Hall)
  • Reich Mir Die Hand
  • Russische Lieder Von Liebe und Tod

1977

  • Midnight in Moscow (Russian-language versions)
  • Komm mit nach Hellas (German-language versions of Greek songs)

1978

  • Mitternacht in Moskau (German version of Midnight in Moscow)

1979

  • Ave Maria
  • Die Ivan Rebroff Versameling (Compilation of South African tracks)

1980

  • Zauber einer großen Stimme — 20 unvergängliche Welterfolge
  • Zauber einer großen Stimme — Seine größten Welterfolge
  • Die schönsten Lieder dieser Welt (Ivan Rebroff singt 20 unvergängliche Melodien)
  • Katharina und Potemkin (TV musical/operetta)

CD discography

1976

2002

  • Meine Reise um die Welt
  • The Great Ivan Rebroff
  • Ach Natascha

2003

  • Seine Größten Welterfolge
  • Best of Ivan Rebroff
  • Golden Stars

Compilation albums

  • Festliche Weihnachten
  • The Art of Ivan Rebroff
  • The Best of Russian Folk Songs Vol. 1
  • The Best of Russian Folk Songs Vol. 2
  • Erinnerungen an das letzte Jahrhundert (Memories of the Last Century)
  • Der Zarewitsch
  • Die Fledermaus (As Prince Orlofsky, with Carlos Kleiber & Bavarian State Orchestra)
  • Weihnachten mit Ivan Rebroff
  • Die schönste Stimme Rußlands
  • Kosakenträume

References

  1. ^ "Obituary: Ivan Rebroff". TheGuardian.com. 18 April 2008.
  2. ^ The Guinness book of records, 1993
  3. ^ "Im tiefen Keller". YouTube.
  4. ^ "Ivan Rebroff Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. ^ Алимов Г., Чародеев Г. «ИВАН РЕБРОВ «ВСЕЙ ДУШОЙ Я РУССКИЙ» Известия 09.05.1989 [...] По документам я действительно Иван Павлович Ребров. [...]
  6. ^ "A slave of the audience finds freedom within". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 March 2004. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  7. ^ Ivan Rebroff biography
  8. ^ "Heribert Daume erzählt: Mein Freund Ivan Rebroff". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). 27 February 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2023. Dass Rebroff homosexuell gewesen sei, wird zwar ungern öffentlich gesagt, inzwischen aus dem näheren Umkreis aber bestätigt.
  9. ^ "Heimlicher Bruder will Millionen-Vermögen" (29/2/09) in Aktuelle Nachrichten - Bild.de
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