Siegmund Nimsgern | |
|---|---|
 Nimsgern in 2007 | |
| Born | (1940-01-14)14 January 1940 Sankt Wendel, Saarland, Germany |
| Died | 14 September 2025(2025-09-14) (aged 85) Sankt Ingbert, Saarland, Germany |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Operaticbaritone |
Siegmund Nimsgern (14 January 1940 – 14 September 2025) was a Germanbass-baritone who made an international career. His signature roles were "evil, dark, ambiguous figures"[1] such as Pizarro in Beethoven'sFidelio and Telramund in Wagner'sLohengrin. Other dark roles he performed include Kaspar in Weber'sDer Freischütz, Ruthven in Marschner'sDer Vampyr, Klingsor in Wagner'sParsifal, Scarpia in Puccini'sTosca, Bartók'sBluebeard and Hindemith'sCardillac. He performed atLa Scala in Milan and theMetropolitan Opera in New York, and portrayed Wotan in Wagner'sDer Ring des Nibelungen at theBayreuth Festival from 1983 to 1986. He was also known for performing works byBach in concert and in recordings, including cantata cycles and major works withNikolaus Harnoncourt andHelmuth Rilling. He recorded Schoenberg'sDie Jakobsleiter andGurre-Lieder conducted byPierre Boulez and took part in a 1989 recording ofLohengrin that won aGrammy Award.
Nimsgern was born inSankt Wendel, Saarland, on 14 January 1940.[2] As a boy he had a soprano voice.[3] After leaving school in 1960 he studied musicology, German and philosophy at theUniversity of Saarbrücken,[1] He studied voice and musical education at theHochschule für Musik Saar with Sibylle Fuchs,Jakob Stämpfli andPaul Lohmann [de].[2][4] He won the 1965International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch and the 1967Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin.[1]
Nimsgern made his debut at theSaarländisches Staatstheater inSaarbrücken in 1967 as Lionel in Tchaikovsky'sThe Maid of Orleans.[1][2] In 1971, he went to theDeutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf and Duisburg for three years.[1] One of his early successes was Escamillo in Bizet'sCarmen.[3]
He appeared internationally from 1973, first at theRoyal Opera House in London as Amfortas in Wagner'sParsifal in 1973.[1] He performed the role also at theParis Opéra in 1974, Kreon in Stravinsky'sOedipus rex in 1979, and later both Telramund in Wagner'sLohengrin and Pizarro in Beethoven'sFidelio, which became two signature roles.[1] He used "differentiated vocal gestures" and articulation of the language to portray "evil, dark, ambiguous figures" including also Ruthven in Marschner'sDer Vampyr, Klingsor inParsifal, and the title roles in Bartók'sBluebeard's Castle and Hindemith'sCardillac.[1] Nimsgern performed atLa Scala in Milan, at theOrange Festival from 1976 to 1979 and in 1989, and at theArena di Verona in 1980.[2] He performed at the 1989Ludwigsburg Festival as Kaspar in Weber'sDer Freischütz and at theVienna State Opera as Dr. Vigelius in Schreker'sDer ferne Klang.[5][6] In 1993 he appeared as Altair inDie ägyptische Helena by R. Strauss at theMegaron hall in Athens.[5]
Nimsgern made his debut at theMetropolitan Opera in New York as Pizarro, returning for Jochanaan inSalome by R. Strauss.[2] He performed at theOpéra de Montréal and theSan Francisco Opera.[2] When he appeared as Scarpia in Puccini'sTosca at theLyric Opera of Chicago, he interpreted him as the foreboding of a fascist sadist; his interpretation was hailed as the best Scarpia sinceTito Gobbi.[1]
From 1983 to 1986, Nimsgern portrayed Wotan in Wagner'sDer Ring des Nibelungen at theBayreuth Festival, conducted byGeorg Solti and directed byPeter Hall.[1][5][7] He appeared as Alberich in theRing cycle recorded byMarek Janowski, portraying the character "with pale colours of defiance and rage" and expressive language.[1]
He recorded numerous operas includingDer Vampyr, Weinberger'sSchwanda the Bagpiper, Flotow'sMartha, Pergolesi'sLa serva padrona, and Wagner'sParsifal. He appeared as Kurwenal in a 1978 live recording of Wagner'sTristan und Isolde at La Scala conducted byCarlos Kleiber, alongsideSpas Wenkoff andCatarina Ligendza in the title roles.[8] He recorded Humperdinck'sHänsel und Gretel, conductedby John Pritchard.[9] He took part in a 1989 recording of Wagner'sLohengrin, conducted by Solti withPlácido Domingo in the title role andJessye Norman as Elsa, that won aGrammy Award.[10]
From the beginning, Nimsgern focused on singing in concert, especially in works byJohann Sebastian Bach that he performed with leading conductors in Europe and the United States.[5] He took part in recordings ofBach cantata cycles and major works such as theMass in B minor and theChristmas Oratorio[1] withNikolaus Harnoncourt[11] andHelmuth Rilling.[12] He recorded SchoenbergDie Jakobsleiter in the role of Gabriel, conducted byPierre Boulez in 1982.[13]
Nimsgern taught voice as a guest professor at theHochschule für Musik Saar and at theMozarteum in Salzburg.[1][14]
Nimsgern lived with his family inSankt Ingbert, Saarland.[14] He and his wife Mechthild[15] had a son, the musical theatre composerFrank Nimsgern.[16]
Nimsgern died in Sankt Ingbert on 14 September 2025, at the age of 85.[1][3][7]
