Herbert Alsen

{{Short description|German opera singer (1906–1978)}} {{moresources|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} '''Herbert Alsen''' (sometimes '''Ahlsen'''; 12 October 1906 – 25 October 1978)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Herbert-Alsen/Performer/26258-2|title=Herbert Alsen - ArkivMusic|website=Arkivmusic.com}}{{deadlink|date=May 2026}}</ref> was a German operatic bass of formidable volume and stature.<ref>Kurt Moses, ''American Record Guide'', Sept./Oct., 2004 quoted on Norbeck, Peters & Ford</ref>

==Biography== {{unsourced|section|date=May 2026}} Alsen debuted as Rocco in ''Fidelio'' in Westfalen. In 1936, he performed as the Commendatore in Mozart's ''Don Giovanni'' under Bruno Walter, and as Pogner the goldsmith in Wagner's ''Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg'' under Arturo Toscanini. Basing his career in Vienna, he went on to play all the great Wagner bass roles, including Gurnemanz, Hunding, Fafner, King Marke and Hagen, and more than forty roles by other composers. He sang at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1938–9 season. He retired in 1958. Recordings are available of his Hunding, Pogner, and Fafner; also Rocco, Banco, Commendatore (opposite Ezio Pinza), Sarastro, and Osmin (opposite Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf). An anthology CD is also available. There are no published recordings of his Hagen.

==Notes and references== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== *[http://www.answers.com/topic/herbert-alsen "Herbert Alsen"]. Classical Artist Biographies. All Media Guide, 2009. (Answers.com 10 December 2009). *Norbeck, Peters & Ford, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714194652/http://www.norpete.com/v0523.html Herbert Alsen (Preiser 90579)]

==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ9oS4WMCAA Formidable volume and stature]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alsen, Herbert}} Category:1906 births Category:1978 deaths Category:German operatic basses Category:Österreichischer Kammersänger Category:20th-century German male opera singers Category:People from Hildesheim Category:Humboldt University of Berlin alumni