Brell was born in Hamburg on 17 October 1936,^[1] and grew up in the district of Barmbek. First, he started an apprenticeship as a painter and varnisher. With his brothers he joined a male choir, the "Mozart Quartet" in Hamburg-Wandsbek, which still exists today.^[2] There, he was discovered and promoted by the choirmaster Ernst Haddorp, who eventually introduced him to Carl Gotthard, with whom Brell began his vocal training.^[3]

In addition to his singing training, Brell took acting and dance lessons, at first continuing to work in his teaching profession in the construction industry.^[4]

After only two years of training, Brell was engaged at the Theater Hof. Another year later, he successfully passed his final examination as an opera singer at the Hamburgische Staatsoper.^[5]

Brell serves a highly extensive repertoire of over 30 operetta and over 80 opera roles ^[6] and over the years has worked in all genres from operetta to Wagner, from lyrical tenor to heroic tenor.^[7]

After a serious heart operation in 1997, he had to leave the stage and could not sing for a long time. With the support of his family and his autobiography "Drum sei bedankbar", which he wrote during this time, he fought his way back into life - and onto the stages.^[8]

Brell died on 8 July 2021, at the age of 84.^[9]

Life and career

References

External links