Opera star, 94, is still getting work

Opera star, 94, is still getting work

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norman lebrecht

April 08, 2019

We’ve received an update on Franz Mazura, the world-renowned Wagnerian bass-baritone.

Franz is still working.  He’s playing Meister Hans Schwarz in Berlin’s Meistersinger under Barenboim next week.

The day after the run ends he will turn 95. And he’s still looking for roles.

Comments

  • Steve says:

    I remember him as a compelling Dr Schoen/Jack the Ripper in the Boulez/Chereau Lulu and also as Gunther in the Bayreuth Centenary Ring cycle. I didn’t realise that he’d also been in Star Trek. Thanks for sharing the clip.

    Magnificent that he’s still performing.

  • Caravaggio says:

    Incredible. But when everyone and the media are constantly and stupidly making such a BFD of Domingo this, Domingo that, there is little to no room for anyone else, is there?

  • Pedro says:

    I saw him in Elektra in February at the Berlin Staatsoper as Orest’s servant. Very impressive indeed.

    • Wimsey says:

      I saw him in the same production (Chéreau’s) in Barcelona, and he was really scary as Orest’s tutor.

  • Petros Linardos says:

    He is four years too old for the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlos. That probably won’t matter because he is most likely in great shape for his age. Is the role a good fit for his voice?

  • Another Hasbeen says:

    Even more remarkable is that among the other Masters will be Graham Clark, Siegfried Jerusalem and Reiner Goldberg. The combined ages of these three plus Mazura will be 340!! And just imagine how many Wagner performances they have taken part in during their careers! Between them they’ve appeared in 70 Bayreuth festivals.

  • ThrownOutOfTheKremlinForSinging says:

    He was typecast for villains and strange characters, but he was a very effective good-guy too.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A49pwH1-Lc

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doR6EMPpjtg&t=130s

  • Stephen R Gould says:

    So he beats Mark Reizen’s record. Well done! And if, as Mr Linardos says, he’s 4 years too old for the Grand Inquisitor, can we therefore expect him to sing in the Met’s next production of Don Carlo? 😉

  • Philippa Ballard says:

    It’s heartwarming see so many old names in the cast list below. This is a tremendous idea. Wonder who thought of it – maybe Barenboim ?

    https://www.staatsoper-berlin.de/en/veranstaltungen/die-meistersinger-von-nuernberg.2766/

  • Straussian says:

    Herr Mazura will be in great company. Other distinguished, superannuated artists on that Staatsoper Unter den Linden Meistersinger cast include Siegfriend Jerusalem, Reiner Goldberg, Graham Clark, and Olaf Baer!!! I hope to attend the last performance April 21, and likely there will be some sort of onstage ceremony. Can’t wait!

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