Opera singer. Originally planning to follow his father into education, he studied music at the University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig beginning in 1911. He began voice studies as well before World War I interrupted. After the war, he was urged to pursue an operatic career, making his debut at Celle in 1920. The following year, he joined the Leipzig Opera where he made his debut there in "Lohengrin." Moving to the Hamburg Opera in 1926, he participated in the first performances of operas by both Korngold and Respighi. He also made consistent appearances in the Bayreuth Festival from 1928 until 1942. He was a prominent member of the Berlin State Opera, where he continued for twelve years, continuing to introduce new operas. On the international stage, he sang at Covent Garden in London, the Paris and Chicago Operas and many other European opera centers including Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Munich and Zurich. In 1937, he joined the Nazi party and became a member of the German Artists within the Ministry of Arts. He was also appointed a music professor to the Imperial School of Music in Salzburg and exempted from military service. Following the end of the war, he stayed active as a teacher in Hamburg, where he also performed at their opera. He was in Dresden by 1955 where he continued to teach and gave his final performance in 1957. He made a number of recordings, two of the most prominent were of Wagner's "Ring des Nibelungen" and "Tristan und Isolde." Those recordings show his voice to be a rich, with a warm tone, exhibiting sensitivity and vocal skill.
Opera singer. Originally planning to follow his father into education, he studied music at the University of Music and Theatre in Leipzig beginning in 1911. He began voice studies as well before World War I interrupted. After the war, he was urged to pursue an operatic career, making his debut at Celle in 1920. The following year, he joined the Leipzig Opera where he made his debut there in "Lohengrin." Moving to the Hamburg Opera in 1926, he participated in the first performances of operas by both Korngold and Respighi. He also made consistent appearances in the Bayreuth Festival from 1928 until 1942. He was a prominent member of the Berlin State Opera, where he continued for twelve years, continuing to introduce new operas. On the international stage, he sang at Covent Garden in London, the Paris and Chicago Operas and many other European opera centers including Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Munich and Zurich. In 1937, he joined the Nazi party and became a member of the German Artists within the Ministry of Arts. He was also appointed a music professor to the Imperial School of Music in Salzburg and exempted from military service. Following the end of the war, he stayed active as a teacher in Hamburg, where he also performed at their opera. He was in Dresden by 1955 where he continued to teach and gave his final performance in 1957. He made a number of recordings, two of the most prominent were of Wagner's "Ring des Nibelungen" and "Tristan und Isolde." Those recordings show his voice to be a rich, with a warm tone, exhibiting sensitivity and vocal skill.
Bio by: Winter Birds PA
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