Gustav Emil Devrient

* 03.09.1803 in Berlin; ✝ 07.08.1872 in Dresden

Actor

Biography

Following in the footsteps of his elder brothers Eduard and Karl August Devrient, Emil Devrient was drawn to the stage in his early years, and in 1821 began a theatrical career in Brunswick.  After various engagements he found employment with the Court Theatre in Dresden, where he remained until 1868.

Devrient was a famous interpreter of heroic roles, which led to the well-known rivalry between himself and Dawison in Dresden – which was at the same time a rivalry between the ‘classical’ acting style for which Devrient was renowned, and the more dynamic interpretations favoured by Dawison. Devrient was best known for his classical roles, in particular the protagonists of tragic plays, including a good number of Shakespeare’s. Appearing with great regularity as a guest star both within Germany and outside it, he can be seen as a typical representative of the 19^th century preoccupation with artistic virtuosity.

Shakespeare Roles

• Hamlet (Hamlet)
• Romeo/Mercutio (Romeo und Juliet)
• Anthony (Anthony and Cleopatra)
• Mark Anthony (Julius Caesar)
• Petruchio (The Taming of the Shrew)
• Bolingbroke (Richard II)

Literature

Secondary Literature

• Houben, Heinrich Hubert: Emil Devrient. Ein Gedenkbuch. Frankfurt a. M., 1903.

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