Knote, Heinrich

views updated

Knote, Heinrich

Knote, Heinrich, distinguished German tenor; b. Munich, Nov. 26, 1870; d. Garmisch, Jan. 12, 1953. He studied with Kirschner in Munich. On May 7, 1892, he made his operatic debut as Georg in Lortzing’s Der Waggenschmied at the Munich Court Opera, where he soon became a principal singer, continuing on its roster when it became the Bavarian State Opera (1918); also sang at London’s Covent Garden (1901; 1903; 1907-08; 1913). He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Walther von Stolzing (Dec. 3, 1904), singing there until 1906 and again in 1907-08; later toured the U.S. with the German Opera Co. (1923–24). His remarkable Munich career spanned almost half a century; made his farewell appearance there as Siegfried (Dec. 15, 1931); subsequently taught voice. He was a greatly esteemed Heldentenor, excelling in such roles as Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, Tristan, and Siegfried.

Bibliography

J. Wagenmann, Der sechzigjährige deutsche Meistersinger H. K. in seiner stimmbildnerischen Bedeutung und im Vergleich mit anderen Sängern (Munich, 1930).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire