Opera Singer. A tenor, he was best known for his performances of Wagner. He originally studied to be an architect at the RWTH Aachen, graduating in 1871 and indeed designed his own house on the Rhine in Dusseldorf. After working as an architect for a few years, against the will of his father he left that career, married, and began to study voice in Milan and Frankfurt. He took his stage name so as not to offend his father and injure his father's business and moved to Weimar to the court opera there, where he was successful. The Metropolitan Opera in New York called in 1885, though he was only 29, and he became a star in New York, in particular for his interpretation of Wagner. He left New York in 1889 to return home where he also was known for his Wagnerian roles. He also was feted for his roles as Tristan and Siegfried at the London Opera in Covent Garden in 1892. Unfortunately, he suffered major injuries in a fall on stage in Mannheim in 1894 while rehearsing, which led to his retirement at only 40 in 1896 and death two years later.
Opera Singer. A tenor, he was best known for his performances of Wagner. He originally studied to be an architect at the RWTH Aachen, graduating in 1871 and indeed designed his own house on the Rhine in Dusseldorf. After working as an architect for a few years, against the will of his father he left that career, married, and began to study voice in Milan and Frankfurt. He took his stage name so as not to offend his father and injure his father's business and moved to Weimar to the court opera there, where he was successful. The Metropolitan Opera in New York called in 1885, though he was only 29, and he became a star in New York, in particular for his interpretation of Wagner. He left New York in 1889 to return home where he also was known for his Wagnerian roles. He also was feted for his roles as Tristan and Siegfried at the London Opera in Covent Garden in 1892. Unfortunately, he suffered major injuries in a fall on stage in Mannheim in 1894 while rehearsing, which led to his retirement at only 40 in 1896 and death two years later.
Bio by: Kenneth Gilbert
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