Lauritz Melchior Danish and later American opera singer, heldentenor Date of Birth: 20.03.1890 Country: USA

Biography of Lauritz Melchior

Lauritz Melchior, born Lauritz Lebrecht Hommel Melchior, was a Danish and later American operatic tenor. He was born in 1890 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Melchior had a passion for music from a young age and sang in a church choir. He later became a student at the Royal Opera School in Copenhagen.

In 1913, Melchior made his operatic debut as a baritone at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, performing the role of Silvio in Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci." Interestingly, even after his professional debut, Melchior continued to study vocal technique and soon transitioned into singing as a tenor.

Melchior's breakthrough came in 1918 when he performed the lead role in Wagner's "Tannhäuser." He continued to sing in Denmark until the early 1920s, after which he furthered his education in England and Germany.

In London, Melchior appeared at the renowned Promenade Concerts at Queens Hall. In May 1924, he made his debut at the prestigious Royal Opera House at Covent Garden in London, which was met with great success.

From 1924 to 1939, Melchior regularly performed at Covent Garden and was also a frequent guest at the Bayreuth Festival, where he developed a close friendship with its director, Siegfried Wagner. In 1925, he made his first appearance at the Vienna State Opera, and throughout the years 1925 to 1939, he often sang at the Berlin State Opera in Germany.

From 1926 to 1950, Melchior became a permanent member of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, establishing himself as one of the leading tenors of his time. He also received acclaim in other opera capitals such as Paris, Brussels, Chicago, San Francisco, and Buenos Aires. He frequently performed alongside renowned opera singers like Kirsten Flagstad, Frida Leider, Lotte Lehmann, Helen Traubel, and many others.

Melchior became particularly renowned for his performances in the repertoire of Richard Wagner, earning him the title of "the most famous Wagnerian heroic tenor of the century." His exceptional voice, with its brilliant high notes and dramatic interpretation, contributed to his success. His vocal type was considered the quintessence of Wagnerian repertoire.

In addition to his work on the opera stage, Melchior also appeared in several Hollywood projects, starring in five musical films produced by MGM and Paramount Pictures. He also made numerous television appearances.

Melchior became an American citizen in 1947 and retired from the opera stage around 1955. Although he occasionally made appearances and performances, he stopped singing regularly. In the late 1960s, he founded a foundation to support the education of the most talented performers at the Juilliard School.

Lauritz Melchior passed away on March 19, 1973, in Santa Monica, California. He was buried at the Assistens Kirkegaard cemetery in Copenhagen. His son, Ib Melchior, a Danish-American novelist and filmmaker, wrote a biography about his father.