Karl Schmitt-Walter

Karl Schmitt-Walter (December 23, 1900, Germersheim - January 14, 1985, Kreuth) was a German operatic baritone, particularly associated with Mozart and Wagner roles.

He studied in Nuremberg with Gustav Landauer, and made his debut there in 1921. He appeared in Oberhausen, Saarbrucken, Dortmund, and in Wiesbaden. He made his debut at the Berlin State Opera in 1935, as Luna in "Il trovatore", which led to a long association with this theatre where he sang in a comprehensive repertory of lyrical roles. He also often appeared at the Hamburg State Opera, the Vienna State Opera, the Salzburg Festival, the Bayreuth Festival, and from 1950, the Munich State Opera.

He made guest appearances at the Paris Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, the Liceo in Barcelona, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Holland Festival, etc.

Scmitt-Walter possessed a voice of great beauty and was particularly admired in Mozart and Wagner roles, notably Papageno and Beckmesser, but also in Verdi operas such as "Ernani", "La traviata", "Un ballo in maschera". He also enjoyed considerable success in light German operas by Lortzing and in operetta. From 1962, he taught in Munich and Copenhagen.

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