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Heinrich SchlusnusGerman lyric baritone
Date of Birth: 06.08.1888
Country: ![]() |
Content:
Biography of Heinrich Schlusnus
Heinrich Schlusnus was a German lyrical baritone, widely regarded as one of the most outstanding German baritones of the first half of the 20th century. His career flourished between the First and Second World Wars. Schlusnus was equally well-known as an opera and chamber performer, with the latter requiring more skill and meticulous preparation in his opinion.

Early Life and Career
Heinrich Schlusnus was born on August 6, 1888, in Braubach, a small historic town in western Germany surrounded by picturesque mountain landscapes. He was the youngest of eight children in a modest family and initially worked as a mail carrier's assistant, never considering an operatic career. While working in Frankfurt, Heinrich met a vocal teacher who was amazed to discover his extraordinary natural baritone voice and offered to provide him with singing lessons.

Later, Schlusnus studied in Berlin and made his debut at the Hamburg State Opera in 1915. However, his promising career was interrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. After serving on the front lines and being wounded, Heinrich decided to dedicate his life to what he was most passionate about - singing. From 1915 to 1917, he performed in Nuremberg, and from 1917 to 1951, he was a member of the Berlin State Opera. Despite his busy schedule, Schlusnus found time for other engagements. For example, he spent the 1927-1928 season at the Chicago Opera, performed at the Bayreuth Festival in 1933, and appeared on the stages of the Vienna State Opera and Covent Garden.

Achievements and Legacy
In Berlin, Heinrich Schlusnus established himself as the greatest German baritone in the performance of Verdi's roles. According to critics, no German baritone since then has been able to surpass his level of excellence, let alone come close to it. He also excelled in performing light Wagnerian roles and the repertoire of other German composers. Schlusnus's success as a chamber singer and interpreter of German songs and romances was significant, despite the fierce competition he faced on the concert and opera stages. Among his rivals were eminent artists such as Herbert Janssen, Rudolf Bockelmann, Karl Schmitt-Walter, and Gerhard Hüsch.
While Heinrich Schlusnus may not have possessed the magnetism of renowned Verdi baritones in the subsequent generations like Lawrence Tibbett and Tito Gobbi, he had an incredibly beautiful voice, remarkable evenness across all registers, exceptional ease in the upper range, impeccable technique, and delicate musicality. These qualities easily compensated for what seemed to be a lack of actor-like charisma.
After enjoying a long and successful opera career until 1951, Schlusnus decided to perform exclusively as a chamber singer. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 63 in Frankfurt on June 18, 1952, due to cardiovascular problems. The singer made numerous recordings from the 1920s to the 1940s in German studios and left behind a rich discography, mostly consisting of romances and a standard repertoire of German and Italian opera arias and duets.