Trivia

Received Germany's Cross of Merit in 1997.

After his parents had died when he was 11 years old, his sister and her husband adopted him.

Has two children: Karoline, from a former relationship of his wife, and Johannes.

Although not supporting the communist regime, he was voted East Germany's "TV Darling" in 1988.

Ensemble member at the Dresden Opera from 1972 to 1992.

After successful completion of his schooling, he moved on to study civil engineering (demolition) in Erfurt. Upon ending this training he switched to music, studying to be an opera singer between 1967 and 1972 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Weimar.

Starting in 2004 he hosted the Krone der Volksmusik, a folk music prize gala.

He was a German operatic bass, a member of the Dresden State Opera, and a television presenter of popular shows.

During the 1980s in the German Democratic Republic, Emmerlich embarked on a parallel career as a television presenter with Deutscher Fernsehfunk. Between 1987 and 1990 he hosted the television cabaret show Showkolade.

One of his signature roles was Osmin in Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail.

He starred in a celebrated performance of Axion Esti in Leipzig, conducted by composer Mikis Theodorakis.

From its revival in 2006 until 2015, Emmerlich hosted the Dresdner Opernball.

Emmerlich was also a jazz performer, playing the banjo.

For many years following reunification, Emmerlich was the presenter of Zauberhafte Heimat (Homeland Charms), a popular show transmitted from Leipzig, featuring popular music. This and other regular appearances made him a firm favourite with television audiences across both sides of the inner border.

He made his last television appearance on the MDR talk show Riverboat in the 15th December. On December 17, 2023, Emmerlich made his last stage appearance at a Christmas concert in the Johanniskirche in Lößnitz, Saxony. He died two days later of heart failure at his home in Dresden on December 19, 2023, at the age of 79.

He was a member of the Semper House Band, which takes most of its members from the orchestra of the Dresden State Opera, and was dedicated to performing traditional jazz.

In 2008, Emmerlich made his debut at New York's Carnegie Hall with the opera singer Deborah Sasson.

His notable roles included Falstaff in Nicolai's 'Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor', Sarastro in Mozart's 'Die Zauberflöte', Tevye in The 'Fiddler on the Roof', Eliza's father in 'My Fair Lady', and Sallah Shabati in the musical of the same name by Ephraim Kishon. He also appeared as Rocco in Beethoven's Fidelio, Geronimo in Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto, and Dulcamara in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, successful not only in singing but also acting.

He received in 1990 a Bambi-award (German award presented annually by Hubert Burda Media to recognize excellence in international media and television to personalities in the media) and in 1997 he was awarded with The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Emmerich performed as a guest, often with the ensemble of the State Opera, such as Alfonso in Mozart's Così fan tutte in Amsterdam in 1988.