Born in Reichenbach near Königsbrück as a child of poor parents and unable to practise a trade due to an accident in his childhood, Bergmann had to contribute to his own livelihood early on.
His father, however, believed that he could only finance an education at a teacher's seminar, but Bergmann was able to take an entrance examination at the Kreuzschule with the intercession of the local priest, with whom he had had Latin lessons.
In September 1816 he got an engagement at the Royal Saxon Court Theatre in Dresden thanks to his beautiful tenor voice; the singer Miksch[2] and the actor Joseph Anton Christ [de][3] trained him further in their subjects.
His melting tenor voice was praised in a summary of his life in the New Necrology of the Germans, although it was more suited to the performance of songs than to the singing of bravura arias.
Although his appearance had "not been advantageous for the stage", "his high slender figure, his decency and other good posture" had ensured that it had at least "not been disturbing".