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Rene KolloGerman opera singer, tenor
Date of Birth: 20.11.1937
Country:  Germany |
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Biography of Rene Kollo
Rene Kollo, whose real name is Rene Kollodzieyski, was born in 1937 in Berlin, Germany. He spent his childhood in the German city of Wyk auf Fohr. Although he studied photography in Hamburg, he was already aware that music, particularly its performance, interested him much more.
Operatic Career
Until the mid-1970s, Rene did not establish himself as a musician. However, during this time, he taught himself to play percussion instruments and occasionally performed in jazz clubs. His operatic debut took place in Braunschweig in 1965 when Rene performed three tenor roles in one-act operas by Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky. He stayed in Braunschweig for two years, building up his repertoire, and in 1967, he joined the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf to perform lyrical roles. In the same year, Rene married popular singer Dorthe Larsen, and they soon welcomed their daughter, Nathalie.
During this period, Rene Kollo began to be actively invited to perform solo in Munich, Frankfurt, Milan, and Lisbon. It was during this time that he gained fame for his performances in Wagnerian roles, earning him a reputation as one of the most talented tenors of the 1970s. Some of his most famous Wagnerian roles include Erik in "Der fliegende Hollander," Lohengrin in the opera of the same name, Walter in "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg," Parsifal, and Siegfried in their respective operas. However, his most renowned Wagnerian performance was as Tristan in "Tristan und Isolde." His portrayal of Tristan was described as beautiful and incredibly romantic, capturing the sincerity, sensuality, and romanticism of a love story. For this role, he received long-lasting ovations from the audience, and critics praised his performance.
Besides Wagnerian repertoire, Kollo had a wide range of roles and performed in Tchaikovsky's "The Queen of Spades," Beethoven's "Fidelio," Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes," Verdi's "Otello," and many other operas. He also expanded his repertoire beyond opera and performed in concerts with lighter music. Additionally, Kollo wrote operettas himself.
Personal Life and Legacy
Rene Kollo has been married for the second time to dancer Beatrice Bouquet since 1982, and they have three children together. He has made numerous recordings in both classical and operetta repertoire, and his performance as Tristan can still be seen on video today.
