He was born in 1908 in Duisburg, and raised in an orphanage in the Rhineland. Despite his humble beginnings, he managed to secure an engagement in the Cologne Opera chorus. While in Cologne he continued his vocal studies with a Professor Lenz, and was eventually promoted to soloist in the Cologne theater.
After engagements in Darmstadt and Erfurt, he first came to national prominence at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf, where he sang from 1938 to 1944. During this period he made several guest appearances at the Oper Frankfurt, where he made a strong impression in the Verdi spinto roles of Manrico and Riccardo.
Aldenhoff was not only one of the last Heldentenors of the period, but also one of the most interesting.[citation needed] Knappertsbusch called him the most "human Heldentenor" of his time. As an interpreter, he has been called the most precise and sensitive Wagner tenor of his generation although some have found his singing on complete recordings of Weber and Wagner operas in the early 1950s rough and harsh.
He died in Munich on 8 October 1959 at the peak of his career from food poisoning.
Brünnhilde: Astrid Varnay; Siegfried: Bernd Aldenhoff; Hagen: Ludwig Weber; Alberich: Heinrich Pflanzl; Gunther: Hermann Uhde; Gutrune: Martha Mödl;
Dirigent: Hans Knappertsbusch Festspielhaus; Bayreuth, 04. August 1951
[2] Richard Wagner: Schmiedelied aus 1. Act Siegfried
Siegfried: Bernd Aldenhoff; Mime: Paul Kuën; Dirigent: Joseph Keilberth; Festspielhaus Bayreuth, 14. August 1952
[3] Richard Wagner, Siegfried 1. Act: „He, Mime! Geschwind! Wie heißt das Schwert?“
Siegfried: Bernd Aldenhoff; Mime: Paul Kuën; Dirigent: Joseph Keilberth; Festspielhaus Bayreuth, 14. August 1952
[4] Richard Wagner, Siegfried 1. Act: „Hoho! Hoho! Hohei!“
Siegfried: Bernd Aldenhoff; Mime: Paul Kuën; Dirigent: Joseph Keilberth; Festspielhaus Bayreuth, 14. August 1952
[5] Richard Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer - 1. act
[6] Richard Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer - 2. act
[7] Richard Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer - 3. act
