IR
Photo of Ivan Rebroff

Ivan Rebroff

Actor
Born July 31, 1931Died February 27, 2008 (76 years)
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.

Known For

  • The Song of the Balalaika

Filmography

2004
Servus, Hansi Hinterseer (TV Series) · as Self
1998
Roll on Sunday (TV Series) · as Self
1997
1994
alfredissimo! Kochen mit Bio (TV Series) · as Self
1991
DAS! (TV Series) · as Self
1986
ZDF-Fernsehgarten (TV Series) · as Self
1982
Champs-Elysees (TV Series) · as Self
1981
Wetten, dass..? (TV Series) · as Self
1980
Verstehen Sie Spaß? (TV Series) · as Self
1979
NDR Talk Show (TV Series) · as Self
1977
On Your Marks, Get Set, Go (TV Series) · as Self
1974
Am laufenden Band (TV Series) · as Self - Guest
1971
Dalli Dalli (TV Series) · as Self
1969
1965
Dim Dam Dom (TV Series) · as Self
1964
Der goldene Schuß (TV Series) · as Self
1964
Gut gefragt ist halb gewonnen (TV Series) · as Self
1964
Die Drehscheibe (TV Series) · as Self
1964
Einer wird gewinnen (TV Series) · as Self
1962
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self - German Singer
1959
Stars in der Manege (TV Series) · as Self
1957
Zum Blauen Bock (TV Series) · as Self
1955
Was bin ich? (TV Series) · as Self

Take Plex everywhere

Watch free anytime, anywhere, on almost any device.
See the full list of supported devices