Ivan Rebroff

Known for ActingBorn 1931-07-31Died 2008-02-27Berlin, 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.Read more

Movies & web series

Die schöne Helena

Die Ivan-Rebroff-Show

Wünsch dir was

Starparade

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Gut gefragt ist halb gewonnen

Dalli Dalli

Bio’s Bahnhof

The Gypsy Baron

Auf los geht's los

Die Montagsmaler

Le Grand Échiquier

À bout portant

Ein Sommer - ein Herbst

Der goldene Schuß

Discorama

Aktuelle Schaubude

Die Drehscheibe

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Wedden, dat..?

Kleiner Mann was tun

Heut' abend

Am laufenden Band

L'homme qui venait du Cher

Einer wird gewinnen

Champs-Elysées

NDR Talk Show

Menschen der Woche

alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio

Zum blauen Bock

Musik ist Trumpf

Midi trente

Samedi soir

Sacrée soirée

Wetten, dass..?

Stars in the Ring

DAS!

Verstehen Sie Spaß?

Das Lied der Balalaika

Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel

Vivement dimanche

ZDF-Fernsehgarten

Unvergessene Legenden

Musikalische Reise

Herzlichen Glückwunsch - Die Michael Schanze Jubiläumsgala

Servus, Hansi Hinterseer

Vorhang auf

Die Feste mit Florian Silbereisen