Opera Singer. A bass-baritone, he is remembered for his 20 year career at the Vienna State Opera (VSO) that saw him sing almost 1,200 performances of 54 roles. Having manifested his talent from a young age, he graduated from Arlington (Texas) Heights High School, was educated at Texas Christian University (TCU), served as a conductor of a US Army Band, and earned a doctorate at the Vienna Academy of Music on a Fulbright Scholarship prior to his February 14, 1966 VSO debut as Morales from Georges "Carmen". Over the years his roles included the title lead of Richard Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman", the Grand Inquisitor from Verdi's "Don Carlos", Melot in Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde", Benoit and Alcindoro of Puccini's "La Boheme", Klingsor and Titurel from Wagner's "Parsifal", Fouquier-Tinville of Umberto Giordano's "Andrea Chenier", the Sacristan and the Jailer in Puccini's "Tosca", Hans Sachs of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger", the Bonze in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly", Fra Melitone of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino", and Hermann from Jacques Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann". Though based in Vienna, Bunger gave acclaimed performances throught the world, singing in the first presentation of "Parsifal" given in East Germany after World War II, appearing at Wagner's Bayreuth Festspielhaus, and earning good reviews for both opera and recital in Dresden, Leipzig, Moscow, Essen, Salzburg, Sydney, Tokyo, Montreal, Phoenix, and elsewhere. Designated Kammersanger (KS) in December of 1980, he retired from the VSO following a June 30, 1985 performance as the Mandarin in Puccini's "Turandot" and returned to Dallas. Back in Texas, he held a professorship at the University of Texas at Arlington, was a respected church soloist, master class presenter, and competition judge, gave occasional operatic performances, joined with his wife Bette in running a noted private music school, and sang the National Anthem for Texas Rangers' baseball games. Bunger lived out his days in Duncanville, Texas; at his death he could be heard on a number of 'live' and studio recordings and on a complete DVD of "Andrea Chenier".
Opera Singer. A bass-baritone, he is remembered for his 20 year career at the Vienna State Opera (VSO) that saw him sing almost 1,200 performances of 54 roles. Having manifested his talent from a young age, he graduated from Arlington (Texas) Heights High School, was educated at Texas Christian University (TCU), served as a conductor of a US Army Band, and earned a doctorate at the Vienna Academy of Music on a Fulbright Scholarship prior to his February 14, 1966 VSO debut as Morales from Georges "Carmen". Over the years his roles included the title lead of Richard Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman", the Grand Inquisitor from Verdi's "Don Carlos", Melot in Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde", Benoit and Alcindoro of Puccini's "La Boheme", Klingsor and Titurel from Wagner's "Parsifal", Fouquier-Tinville of Umberto Giordano's "Andrea Chenier", the Sacristan and the Jailer in Puccini's "Tosca", Hans Sachs of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger", the Bonze in Puccini's "Madame Butterfly", Fra Melitone of Verdi's "La Forza del Destino", and Hermann from Jacques Offenbach's "The Tales of Hoffmann". Though based in Vienna, Bunger gave acclaimed performances throught the world, singing in the first presentation of "Parsifal" given in East Germany after World War II, appearing at Wagner's Bayreuth Festspielhaus, and earning good reviews for both opera and recital in Dresden, Leipzig, Moscow, Essen, Salzburg, Sydney, Tokyo, Montreal, Phoenix, and elsewhere. Designated Kammersanger (KS) in December of 1980, he retired from the VSO following a June 30, 1985 performance as the Mandarin in Puccini's "Turandot" and returned to Dallas. Back in Texas, he held a professorship at the University of Texas at Arlington, was a respected church soloist, master class presenter, and competition judge, gave occasional operatic performances, joined with his wife Bette in running a noted private music school, and sang the National Anthem for Texas Rangers' baseball games. Bunger lived out his days in Duncanville, Texas; at his death he could be heard on a number of 'live' and studio recordings and on a complete DVD of "Andrea Chenier".
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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