He was 79 years old - Heart failure - Singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich is dead
The singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich is dead. He died unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 79 at home in Dresden from heart failure, as his manager Gunter Grebler told the German Press Agency on Wednesday. The MDR had first reported.
Singing, directing, presenting, a foray into acting and, most recently, audio books - his trump card was diversity. He has written three books about his life. Born in Eisenberg (Thuringia) in 1944, the bass wanted to become a pilot or go to sea as a boy, but then studied opera singing at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar after training as a civil engineer.
Emmerlich even gave "Wetten, dass...?" a run for its money
In 1972, he was hired by the young talent studio of the Dresden Opera, and shortly afterwards he joined the ensemble. The banjo player and jazz singer also founded the Semper House Band in 1985 with like-minded musicians from the Staatskapelle. From 1987, Emmerlich conquered the TV screen in the GDR and even rivaled Thomas Gottschalk's "Wetten, dass...? " in the West with "Showkolade", a mix of glitter, contemporary criticism and cabaret.
In 1992, he terminated his contract with the Semperoper in order to work freelance. With shows such as "Nimm Dir Zeit", "Gunther und drüber" and "Zauberhafte Heimat", he then became a favorite of German television viewers in East and West. In 2008, he made his successful debut with opera singer Deborah Sasson at New York's Carnegie Hall. His musical repertoire ranges 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.
His most recent appearance is currently being broadcast on MDR
Since then, he has made regular guest appearances with his own program in eastern Germany and appeared on television. According to a close friend, he was still present at the recording of a Christmas concert on Sunday. On Wednesday evening, "we can all watch his last recorded program together on MDR and say goodbye to him," wrote his manager.
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Gunther Emmerlich passed away from heart failure at the age of 79 in his home in Dresden. This news was confirmed by his manager Gunter Grebler to the German Press Agency. The last broadcast featuring Emmerlich is currently being presented on MDR.
Emmerlich started his career at the young talent studio of the Dresden Opera and later joined their ensemble. He founded the Semper House Band in 1985 and gained popularity in the GDR with "Showkolade," rivaling Thomas Gottschalk's "Wetten, dass..." in the West.
Born in Eisenberg, Thuringia, Emmerlich studied opera singing at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar after pursuing civil engineering. His profile in the entertainment industry was marked by diversity, from singing to presenting, acting to audio books, and various ensemble performances.
Gunther Emmerlich's influence and legacy will continue to be felt in the Eastern German television scene and beyond, as his talent and creativity left a lasting impact on popular entertainment in his country.
Source: www.stern.de
