The singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich is dead. He died unexpectedly of heart failure at the age of 79, his management announced. Emmerlich became known primarily on GDR television. He also worked at the Dresden Opera.
The opera singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich has died. As his management confirmed to the media, he died at home of heart failure at the age of 79.
He has appeared in the opera, on television and at major classical and opera galas. On Sunday he sang at a Christmas concert in Lößnitz in Saxony, and a week ago he was a guest at a Christmas concert in Ronneburg for a good cause.
In 1990 Emmerlich received the Bambi and in 1997 he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit. He has written three books about his life.
Opera instead of a construction site
Emmerlich was born on September 18, 1944 in Eisenberg, Thuringia. He had lived in Dresden for many years and was well known to TV audiences for decades. As a boy he wanted to become a pilot or go to sea. In Erfurt he studied at the engineering school for construction, but then turned to music and studied opera singing for five years at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar.
In 1972, the Dresden Opera’s young talent studio hired him – shortly afterwards he was accepted into the ensemble. For 20 years he was a permanent member of the ensemble at the Semperoper Dresden as bass. The banjo player and jazz singer also founded the Semper HouseBand in 1985 with like-minded musicians from the Staatskapelle.
Emmerlich was at home on the stages of the Republic – here he played the main role in the musical comedy “Sallah Shabati or Swap a Woman for an Apartment” in Meiningen in 1996.
Numerous appearances on GDR television
From 1987 onwards, Emmerlich was seen repeatedly on GDR television as a singer, presenter and interviewer, including on the “Night of the Celebrities” and in the entertainment program “Ein Kessel Buntes” as well as as a talk show host on the popular Saturday evening entertainment program “Die Showkolade”. Around 25 percent of television viewers tuned in. This meant he could start with “Bet that…?” compete with Thomas Gottschalk on ZDF.
However, Emmerlich came into the focus of the GDR cultural authorities for his rebellious political comments. They imposed a regional ban on him performing because of “anti-state considerations”. After reunification, Emmerlich also presented for ARD and ZDF. He also moderated galas and starred in the television series “Zauberhafte Heimat”.
In 1992 he broke his contract with the Semperoper to work freelance. With shows such as “Take Time”, “Gunther and Drüber” and “Zauberhafte Heimat” he then became a favorite of German television viewers in East and West. In 2008 he made his successful debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall with the opera singer Deborah Sasson. His musical repertoire ranged from church music to song cycles, arias and duets to Dixieland and swing. In 2015 he made his debut in an operetta at the Bad Hersfeld Festival.
Since then he has appeared regularly with his own program in eastern Germany and appeared on television. On Wednesday evening “we can all watch his last recorded broadcast together on MDR and say goodbye to him,” his manager wrote.
“Sad news just before Christmas”
“Very sad news just before Christmas,” said Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, according to a statement from the State Chancellery. With him, “we are losing a great entertainer and gifted opera singer. He embodied the Saxon joy of life and brought it closer to people all over Germany.” He touched and inspired people with his voice, his wit and charm. And he was “a unique artist” who was always committed to helping others, “encouraging others and giving hope” in charity concerts and performances.
Culture Minister Klepsch said she was “deeply affected”, praised Emmerlich as a great artist, opera singer and popular figure in Saxony and also recalled his social commitment.
The actor and cabaret artist Wolfgang Stumph also reacted with dismay. “It breaks my heart, it’s unbelievable,” the 77-year-old told the dpa news agency. “I’m losing a great friend, a great support on my path, a role model.” Emmerlich only saw his high artistic standards fulfilled “if he was credible, authentic and publicly convincing with his very personal style.”