Sobell's father George Friedrich Fischer (c. 1822 or 1828 – 9 February 1882) emigrated to South Australia aboard the ship Louise, arriving 26 March 1849,[1] and was soon involved in the city's musical scene, performing with Frederick and Albert Seyler, who arrived aboard Alfred in December 1848.
George was co-owner with Robert Wiener (died 1878) of a coffee bar on Rundle Street, where the Adelaide Liedertafel,[2] was formed.
[5][6] Of the five finalists,[a] Fischer was considered, though less schooled, to have the greatest natural talent, and was consequently awarded the scholarship.
[9] In 1890 he was contracted to the Wiesbaden Opera House for three years as heroic tenor to play the title roles in Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, and received excellent notices in the German press.
In 1893, at Frankfurt am Main, he married Agatha Scheper[12] (born 30 December 1859) both were on the staff of Cecil Sharp's Hampstead Conservatoire of Music.
[9] He returned to Australia, arriving in Sydney aboard Media in April 1915 as "Frank Sobell", with wife and son.
I have heard him sing many varied stvles of music at concerts, e.g., Schubert and Schumann lieder, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Wagner selections, etc.