Frantz, Ferdinand

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Frantz, Ferdinand

Frantz, Ferdinand, German bass-baritone; b. Kassel, Feb. 8, 1906; d. Munich, May 26, 1959. He made his debut at the opera in Kassel in 1927 as Ortel in Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg; then sang in Halle (1930–32) and Chemnitz (1932–37). He was a leading member of the Hamburg State Opera (1937–43) and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich (1943–59). He made a fine impression at his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. on Dec. 12, 1949, as Wotan in Die Walkiire; sang there until 1951 and again in 1953–54; he also appeared at Co vent Garden in London in 1953–54. He was primarily known as an effective Wagnerian bass and baritone.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire