Birth

:

June 2, 1915

Death

:

February 21, 2005

Genre

:

Opera

 

Josef Metternich was a renowned German baritone who was born on June 2, 1915, in Bonn, Germany. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Heinrich Metternich, was a well-known conductor and composer, and his mother, Maria Metternich, was a pianist. Josef Metternich showed an early interest in music and began singing in his father's choir at the age of six. Metternich received his formal music education at the Cologne Conservatory, where he studied under the tutelage of the famous baritone, Heinrich Schlusnus. He made his professional debut in 1937 at the Stadttheater in Koblenz, Germany, where he performed the role of Silvio in Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." His performance was well-received, and he quickly gained a reputation as a talented young singer. In 1939, Metternich was drafted into the German army and served as a soldier during World War II. He was captured by the Allies in 1945 and spent several years as a prisoner of war in France. During his captivity, he continued to sing and perform for his fellow prisoners, which helped to keep his spirits up. After the war, Metternich resumed his singing career and quickly established himself as one of the leading baritones of his generation. He made his debut at the Bayreuth Festival in 1951, where he performed the role of Klingsor in Wagner's "Parsifal." He went on to perform at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and La Scala in Milan. Metternich was known for his powerful voice, his dramatic stage presence, and his ability to convey emotion through his singing. He was particularly renowned for his performances of Wagner's operas, and he was considered one of the greatest interpreters of the role of Wotan in "Die Walküre." Metternich received many awards and honors throughout his career, including the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Bavarian Order of Merit, and the Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia. He was also awarded the title of Kammersänger, which is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a singer in Germany. Metternich retired from the stage in 1979, but he continued to teach and mentor young singers. He was a professor of voice at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, where he trained many of the leading baritones of the next generation. Josef Metternich died on January 18, 2005, at the age of 89. He was remembered as one of the greatest baritones of the 20th century, and his legacy continues to inspire and influence singers today.

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