Betz, Franz

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Betz, Franz

Betz, Franz, noted German baritone; b. Mainz, March 19, 1835; d. Berlin, Aug. 11, 1900. He studied in Karlsruhe. In 1856 he made his operatic debut as the Herald in Lohengrin in Hannover, and then sang in Altenburg, Géra, Côthen, and Rostock. On May 16, 1859, he made his first appearance at the Berlin Royal Opera as Don Carlos in Ernani, and remained one of its principal members until 1897. He was particularly esteemed for his Wagnerian roles, and was chosen to create the roles of Hans Sachs in Munich (1868) and the Wanderer in Siegfried at Bayreuth (1876). Among his other prominent roles were Don Giovanni, Pizzaro, Amonasro, and Falstaff. His wife was the soprano Johanne Betz (1837–1906).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire

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