Franz Mazura | |
|---|---|
 Franz Mazura in 2015 | |
| Born | 22 April 1924 Salzburg, Austria |
| Died | 23 January 2020 (aged 95) Mannheim, Germany |
| Education | Hochschule für Musik Detmold |
| Occupation | Operatic bass-baritone |
| Organizations | |
| Title | Kammersänger |
| Spouse |
Elisabeth Friedmann
(m. 1957; died 2016) |
| Children | 2[1] |
| Awards | |
Franz Mazura (22 April 1924 – 23 January 2020)[2] was an Austrian bass-baritone opera singer and actor. He performed at the Bayreuth Festival from 1971 for 25 years and at the Metropolitan Opera for 15 years. He was made a Kammersänger in 1980 and an Honorary Member of the Nationaltheater Mannheim in 1990. He most often played villains and strange characters,[1] with signature roles including Klingsor in Wagner's Parsifal. Mazura took part in world premieres, such as the double role of Dr. Schön and Jack the Ripper in the world premiere of the completed version of Alban Berg's Lulu at the Paris Opera in 1979, and as Abraham in Giorgio Battistelli's Lot in 2017. Two of his recordings received Grammy Awards. His voice was described as with dark timbre, powerful and like granite ("dunkel gefärbt, kräftig und wie Granit"), with perfect diction.[2] His acting ability was described as "well-supplied with vivid imaginative touches, whether deployed in comic roles or characters of inexorable malevolence. Mazura could achieve more impact with a lifted eyebrow or a belligerently thrust chin than many artists could with a ten-minute monologue."[3] He had a long career, appearing at the Staatsoper Berlin the night before his 95th birthday.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
Tommasiniwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Ossowskiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Franz Mazura, 95, Singing Actor Who Brought Life to Villains, Curmudgeons and Authority Figures, has Died". www.operanews.com.