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Franz Michael BohnenGerman opera singer, bass-baritone, and actor.
Date of Birth: 02.05.1887
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Biography of Franz Michael Bohnen
- Early Career
- International Success
- Popularity as an Actor
- Post-War Challenges
Biography of Franz Michael Bohnen
Franz Michael Bohnen was a German opera singer, bass-baritone, and actor. He was born on May 2, 1887, in Cologne, Germany. Bohnen studied vocal art at the Cologne University of Music, one of Europe's leading conservatories, and also took private lessons.
Early Career
Bohnen made his professional debut in 1910 at the Düsseldorf Theatre (Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus). In 1912, he joined the Staatsoper Berlin (Berlin State Opera) company and regularly performed at the Bayreuth Festival from 1914 onwards. Despite the outbreak of World War I, Bohnen continued his career in the opera world until 1916 when he was recalled from military service by the Berlin Opera.
International Success
Bohnen achieved international recognition when he portrayed Baron Ochs in the 1926 film adaptation of Richard Strauss' opera "Der Rosenkavalier." In 1922, he joined the Metropolitan Opera in New York and toured Buenos Aires in 1933-1934. Bohnen had a romance with Austrian-German dancer and actress La Jana, who was eighteen years younger than him. They maintained a long correspondence, which is still preserved today and is in the possession of his granddaughter.
Popularity as an Actor
In Germany, Bohnen was also highly regarded as an actor, having appeared in over 30 films. He was known for his physical strength and versatility. Bohnen returned to Berlin in 1934, first joining the Berlin State Opera and later transferring to the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he performed from 1935 to 1945.
Post-War Challenges
After World War II, Bohnen served as the artistic director of Deutsche Oper Berlin until 1947 and continued to perform there until 1951. He also became the president of the Chamber of Artists, a cultural institution within the Allied denazification program in Germany. Unfortunately, he was falsely accused of Nazi connections by his own student, tenor Hans Beirer, resulting in his removal as the theater's director. Although Beirer's lie was quickly proven false, Bohnen's rehabilitation proceeded slowly. As a result, he died in poverty, receiving only a small allowance from the city of Berlin. Bohnen passed away on April 26, 1965, in Berlin and was buried at the Friedhof Heerstraße cemetery.
