Hildegard Hennecke (Mezzo-soprano)

Born: 1905 (?) - Germany

The German mezzo-soprano, Hildegard Hennecke, was a pupil of the great concert singer Maria Philippi at the Musikhochschule of Köln, and studied also with Oscar Rees.

Since 1928 Hildegard Hennecke appeared as a concert singer and had her first successes in 1929 in Köln. In 1930 she appeared as a guest in Wiesbaden, in 1931 and 1936 in Vienna, in 1932 in Luzern, in 1934 in Hamburg, in 1935 in Munich and Hannover. At the Händel-Festen of Göttingen she became acquainted during 1936-37 as high-talented interpreter of this master. Since 1936 she appeared regularly in Berlin and in Leipzig as concert soloist, in 1937 she was a guest in Brussels and Lüttich.

Hildegard Hennecke's concert repertoire was very comprehensive and included numerous parts from the range the oratorios, sacred vocal music as well as Lieder singing. She had great success as a George Frideric Handel interpreter, but was highly estimated also in the works of J.S. Bach. She became also a part of a vocal quartet together with Helene Fahrni, Heinz Marten and Fred Drissen. On the stage she did not appear. She only sang in 1933 in Mönchengladbach in a concert performance of the opera to Der Barbier von Bagdad by Cornelius in the role of the Bostana.

Recordings: Polydor DGG (Baroque arias).

Source: Operissimo Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2005)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2005)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

August Wenzinger

Alto

BWV 53, BWV 200

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