Ivan Rebroff

Ivan Rebroff

Born: July 31, 1931
Died: February 27, 2008
in Berlin, Germany
Ivan Rebroff (31 July 1931 – 27 February 2008) was a German-born vocalist, allegedly of Russian ancestry, who rose to prominence for his distinct and extensive vocal range of four and a half octaves, ranging from the soprano to bass registers.

Rebroff was born in Berlin as Hans-Rolf Rippert to German parents. His parents were Paul Rippert, an engineer born in 1897 in Liebenwerda, and Luise Fenske, born in Bydgoszcz (then part of Prussian Bromberg). He claimed Russian descent, and while often disputed, this has never been totally refuted. In a 1989 interview with Izvestia, he said "according to documents I am Ivan Pavlovich Rebroff" (Russian: Иван Павлович Ребров).

He studied singing at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg. Although his knowledge and pronunciation of Russian was imperfect, he became famous for singing Russian folk songs, but also performed opera, light classics and folk songs from many other countries. He was known on stage for his gusto. He performed over 6,000 concerts in his career, including a two-year seven-day-a-week stint at the French opera, singing and acting, among other greats, the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Rebroff still performed 12 shows in 14 days when he was well into his seventies, such as on an Australian tour.

Ivan Rebroff described himself as international, the "connection between East and West". He became a citizen of Greece and lived on the Greek island of Skopelos in the Sporades. Rebroff was homosexual.

As well as being a phenomenal singer, videos such as this and photos such as this suggest that he was at least a reasonable violinist and keyboardist (he is pictured playing a church organ but may have also played the piano).

He died in Frankfurt after a long illness. Four days after his death, his brother Horst Rippert, who is nine years his senior (and by his own unsubstantiated accounts shot down Antoine de Saint Exupéry during World War II), claimed part of Rebroff's vast fortune.

Source: Article "Ivan Rebroff" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Ivan Rebroff...

Title: Musikalische Reise
Character: Self
Released: January 3, 2010
Type: TV
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Title: Servus, Hansi Hinterseer
Character: Self
Released: October 30, 2004
Type: TV
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Title: Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel
Character: Self
Released: January 31, 2004
Type: TV
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Title: Menschen der Woche
Character: Self
Released: September 30, 2000
Type: TV
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Title: Vivement dimanche
Character: Self
Released: September 20, 1998
Type: TV
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Title: alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio
Character: Self
Released: December 27, 1994
Type: TV
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Title: Die Feste mit Florian Silbereisen
Character: Self
Released: June 2, 1994
Type: TV
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Title: DAS!
Character: Self
Released: January 2, 1991
Type: TV
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Title: ZDF-Fernsehgarten
Character: Self
Released: June 29, 1986
Type: TV
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Title: Melodien für Millionen
Character: Self
Released: February 2, 1985
Type: TV
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Title: Champs-Elysées
Character: Self
Released: January 16, 1982
Type: TV
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Kleiner Mann was tun
Title: Kleiner Mann was tun
Character: Officer
Released: August 26, 1981
Type: Movie
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Title: Wetten, dass..?
Character: Self
Released: February 14, 1981
Type: TV
A long-running German-language entertainment television show based on the format of the British show You Bet! and the American show Wanna Bet?.
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Title: Heut' abend
Character: Self
Released: February 3, 1980
Type: TV
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Title: Verstehen Sie Spaß?
Character: Self
Released: January 31, 1980
Type: TV
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Title: NDR Talk Show
Character: Self
Released: February 9, 1979
Type: TV
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Title: Prominentenküche
Character: Self
Released: January 5, 1979
Type: TV
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Title: Bio’s Bahnhof
Character: Self
Released: February 9, 1978
Type: TV
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Title: Auf los geht's los
Character: Self
Released: January 22, 1977
Type: TV
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Die schöne Helena
Title: Die schöne Helena
Character: Kalohas
Released: January 19, 1975
Type: Movie
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Title: Système 2
Character: Self
Released: January 19, 1975
Type: TV
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Title: Musik ist Trumpf
Character: Self
Released: January 2, 1975
Type: TV
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The Gypsy Baron
Title: The Gypsy Baron
Character: Kálmán Zsupán
Released: January 1, 1975
Type: Movie
In the Temesvar Province, a landowner returned from exile marries a gypsy girl who is revealed to be the daughter of a Turkish Pasha and the rightful owner of a hidden treasure. Next to "Die Fledermaus", DER ZIGEUNERBARON is Johann Strauss’s most popular operetta. The libretto gave Strauss the chance to revel in such contrasting musical forms as the Csárdás and the Viennese waltz. The style of the lied forms and ensembles is so original and finely balanced that the "Gypsy Baron" can truly be called a comic opera. Among the leading names of the stellar cast in this exuberant 1975 film of the operetta are Wolfgang Brendel, Ivan Rebroff, Janet Perry, Ellen Shade, Martha Mödl and, in the role that launched his career, Siegfried Jerusalem as Sándor Barinkay.
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Title: Am laufenden Band
Character: Self - Guest
Released: April 27, 1974
Type: TV
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Title: Die Montagsmaler
Character: Self
Released: January 14, 1974
Type: TV
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Title: Die Ivan-Rebroff-Show
Character: self-host
Released: March 25, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Midi trente
Character: Self
Released: March 6, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Le Grand Échiquier
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1972
Type: TV
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Title: Cadet Rousselle
Character: Self
Released: November 4, 1971
Type: TV
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Title: Dalli Dalli
Character: Self
Released: May 13, 1971
Type: TV
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The Song of the Balalaika
Title: The Song of the Balalaika
Character: Samson-Sascha
Released: March 12, 1971
Type: Movie
Sasha Voronin, a famous singer about to marry supermodel Nathalie, falls victim to John Darow, who attempts to murder him by knocking him out and throwing him into the sea. Sacha is taken in by fishermen, but he has lost his memory and takes the name Samson. Samson's memory begins to awaken when he hears a familiar tune during a circus performance, and begins to sing. Deciding to leave with the circus troupe, he ends up being hired by the director of a radio station, who launches him on the air under the name of "unknown singer". Nathalie, meanwhile married to John, recognizes his voice and wants to find him; Sacha rejects her because he has fallen in love with Maria. John again tries to eliminate Sacha, then attempts to kidnap Maria. After a mad chase, Sacha defeats John, who is arrested by the police.
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Title: Samedi soir
Character: Self
Released: January 9, 1971
Type: TV
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Cent ans de Folies Bergère
Title: Cent ans de Folies Bergère
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1971
Type: Movie
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Title: Wünsch dir was
Character: Self
Released: December 20, 1969
Type: TV
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Title: Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
Character: Self
Released: March 9, 1969
Type: TV
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Title: À bout portant
Character: Self
Released: December 16, 1968
Type: TV
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Title: Starparade
Character: Self
Released: March 14, 1968
Type: TV
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Title: Europarty
Character: Self
Released: June 4, 1967
Type: TV
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Title: Von uns für Sie
Character: Self
Released: December 25, 1966
Type: TV
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Ein Sommer - ein Herbst
Title: Ein Sommer - ein Herbst
Character: Opernsänger
Released: December 17, 1964
Type: Movie
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Title: Der goldene Schuß
Character: Self
Released: November 26, 1964
Type: TV
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Title: Gut gefragt ist halb gewonnen
Character: Self
Released: September 26, 1964
Type: TV
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Title: Die Drehscheibe
Character: Self
Released: April 1, 1964
Type: TV
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Title: Einer wird gewinnen
Character: Self
Released: January 25, 1964
Type: TV
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Title: Stars in der Manege
Character: Self
Released: April 11, 1959
Type: TV
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Title: Discorama
Character: Self
Released: February 4, 1959
Type: TV
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Title: Zum blauen Bock
Character: Self
Released: August 3, 1957
Type: TV
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Title: Was bin ich?
Character: self
Released: January 2, 1955
Type: TV