Leading German tenor dies after a stroke, at 71

The Bayreuth Festival has confirmed the death of Peter Seiffert, one of the most popular singers within his profession and one of the finest Heldentenor performers of recent years.

Born in Düsseldorf, Seiffert made his debut locally at 24 at Deutsche Oper am Rhein. He became a summer fixture at Bayreuth, its regular Lohengrin, and sang all of his major roles at Bavarian State Opera, which included much Italian repertoire. He made at late Met debut in 2004 as Tannhäuser.

In 1986 he married the glorious Slovak soprano Lucia Popp, fifteen years his senior. After her death from cancer seven years later, he was eventually married a second time to Petra-Maria Schnitzer (pictured), a soprano who sang opposite him at Bayreuth.