Hollweg, Werner (Friedrich)

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Hollweg, Werner (Friedrich)

Hollweg, Werner (Friedrich), German tenor; b. Solingen, Sept. 13, 1936. He received his training in Detmold, Lugano, and Munich. After making his debut with the Vienna Chamber Opera in 1962, he sang in Bonn (1963–67) and Gelsenkirchen (1967–68). His success as Belmonte in Florence in 1969 and as a soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Sym. under Karajan in Osaka in 1970 led to engagements with the Hamburg State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, and the Vienna State Opera. He also appeared in Rome, Paris, N.Y., Los Angeles, and at London’s Covent Garden (debut as Titus, 1976). He won particular distinction in such Mozart portrayals as Don Ottavio, Idomeneo, Tamino, Basilio, and Ferrando. He also sang in contemporary operas, creating the role of Matthew Levi in Holler’s Der Meister und Margarita (Paris, 1989). His concert repertoire ranged from Haydn to Kodâly. His interpretations of the songs of Schubert, Schumann, and Loewe were especially esteemed.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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