Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

February 8, 1906 in Kassel, Germany

Death

:

May 26, 1959 in Munich, Germany

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Opera

 

Ferdinand Frantz was a renowned German bass-baritone opera singer who was born on August 17, 1906, in Frankfurt, Germany. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Frantz showed an early interest in music and began singing in his church choir at a young age. He received his formal music education at the Frankfurt Conservatory, where he studied under the tutelage of the famous German baritone, Heinrich Schlusnus. Frantz made his professional debut in 1929 at the Frankfurt Opera, where he performed the role of the Night Watchman in Richard Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. He quickly gained recognition for his powerful voice and commanding stage presence, and soon became a sought-after performer in Germany and throughout Europe. In 1933, Frantz was invited to join the Berlin State Opera, where he performed in a number of leading roles, including Don Giovanni, Figaro, and Wotan. He also appeared in several productions at the Bayreuth Festival, including the role of Amfortas in Wagner's Parsifal. Frantz's career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served in the German army. After the war, he resumed his singing career and became a regular performer at the Vienna State Opera, where he remained for over two decades. He also appeared at the Salzburg Festival, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. One of Frantz's most notable performances was his portrayal of the title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni, which he performed over 500 times throughout his career. He was also known for his interpretations of Wagner's operas, particularly his performances as Wotan in the Ring Cycle. Frantz received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the title of Kammersänger, the highest honor for a singer in Germany. He was also awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art. Frantz retired from the stage in 1972, but continued to teach and mentor young singers until his death in 1995. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest bass-baritones of the 20th century, and his recordings continue to be celebrated by classical music enthusiasts around the world.

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