Walter Berry Austrian opera singer, bass-baritone Date of Birth: 08.04.1929 Country: Austria

Biography of Walter Berry

Walter Berry was an Austrian opera singer, a bass-baritone. He was born in Vienna and studied vocal skills at the Vienna Music Academy. Berry made his debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1947, where he began his career with smaller roles. In 1950, he became a permanent member of the company and remained with the opera troupe until the end of his career.

Despite being associated with the Vienna theaters, Berry also performed extensively throughout Europe. Starting from 1952, he regularly appeared at the Salzburg Festival. In the 1960s and 1970s, Berry actively performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

One of Berry's signature roles was Papageno from Mozart's "The Magic Flute." He portrayed this character exclusively at the Vienna State Opera for many years, gaining recognition not only in Austria but also throughout the German-speaking world. However, surprisingly, Berry was never able to showcase his rendition of Papageno in London during his entire 40-year opera career.

In 1976, Berry was finally invited to Covent Garden in London, where he performed as Barak in Richard Strauss's "Die Frau ohne Schatten." His portrayal of the humble dyer was masterful, and his rich and melodious bass-baritone, combined with his unique command of body language, left an indelible impression.

In 1986, Berry took on the role of Count Waldner in Strauss's "Arabella." By that time, he was already over 50, but his wonderful voice remained strong and rich. He further showcased his talent in Strauss's "Capriccio" as the major-domo. One of his other notable roles was the lead character in Béla Bartók's "Duke Bluebeard's Castle." His performance in this opera, alongside mezzo-soprano Christa Ludwig and conductor István Kertész, is considered one of the best interpretations of the work.

Berry's wife, Christa Ludwig, was not only his colleague but also his spouse. They married in 1956 but divorced in 1971. Despite their separation, they often performed together on stage and participated in various concert productions. One of their most successful collaborations was in "Der Rosenkavalier," where Berry portrayed Baron Ochs, and Ludwig played the role of the Marshallin. This performance was recorded and conducted by Leonard Bernstein.

Berry's talent was not limited to opera. He was also known for his performances in various choral ensembles and excelled in German lieder. Walter Berry passed away in Vienna on October 27, 2000, at the age of 71.