Wunderlich, Fritz

views updated

Wunderlich, Fritz (b Kusel, 1930; d Heidelberg, 1966). Ger. tenor. Début as soloist with Freiburg Bach Choir, c.1951. Opera début Freiburg 1954 in sch. perf. (Tamino in Die Zauberflöte). Sang with Stuttgart Opera 1955–8 (prof. début as Eislinger in Die Meistersinger). Frankfurt 1958–60; Bavarian State Opera, Munich, from 1960; Vienna from 1962. Recognized as fine Mozart ten. Débuts: Aix-en-Provence Fest. 1958; Salzburg Fest. 1959; CG 1965; Edinburgh Fest. 1966. Recorded ten. songs of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with Klemperer. Superb singer of operetta. Died in fall (3 weeks before making his NY Met début as Don Ottavio), at height of recognition as one of greatest of Ger. lyric tens. for many years.