Ferdinand Frantz

Ferdinand Frantz (born February 8, 1906, Kassel - May 26, 1959, Munich), was a German opera bass. He was well-known in his time for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner.

Frantz's first role was in Kassel in 1927, playing Hermann Ortel in a production of Wagner's "Die Meistersinger". He sang in Halle from 1930-32, then in Chemnitz from 1932-1937, and then in Hamburg with the Hamburg State Opera from 1937-42. In 1943 he began singing with the Munich State Opera, for whom he would sing until the year of his death.

Frantz guested at the Vienna Staatsoper, Semper Oper in Dresden, at La Scala, and Covent Garden. He debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1949, playing Wotan in Wagner's "Die Walküre". This role caused some consternation among operagoers: Helen Traubel was to play Brünnhilde opposite Frantz's Wotan, and when Traubel could not perform, Frantz's wife, soprano Helena Braun, stepped into the role. The resulting situation of a husband and wife playing the roles of father and daughter was covered on the front page of New York newspapers.

External links

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