Adamberger, (Josef) Valentin

Adamberger, (Josef) Valentin, notable German tenor and teacher; b. Munich, July 6, 1743; d. Vienna, Aug. 24, 1804. He studied at the Jesuit Domus Gregoriana in Munich, where he received vocal instruction from J. E. Walleshauser. In 1760 he became a member of the Kapelle of Duke Clemens, and then of the Elector’s Hofkapelle in 1770. In 1777 he went to Italy, where he appeared in major opera serie roles in Modena, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Rome. After singing at the King’s Theatre in London from 1777 to 1779, he again sang in Italy. He then settled in Vienna, where he made his debut at the National Singspiel on Aug. 21, 1780. On July 16, 1782, he created the role of Belmonte in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. After the company disbanded in 1783, he became a member of the Italian company at the Burgtheater. In 1785 he joined the new German company under imperial auspices at the Kärnthnertortheater. He created the role of Herr Vogelsang in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor on Feb. 7, 1786. After the German company disbanded in 1789, he rejoined the Italian company at the Burgtheater. In 1793 he retired from the stage but remained active at the imperial Hofkapelle and as a teacher. Mozart wrote the arias K.420 and K.431, as well as the cantata Die Maurerfreude, K.417 for him. Adamberger was also known for his roles in operas by J. C. Bach, Sarti, Sacchini, Bertoni, Umlauf, and Dittersdorf.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire