Fritz Hübner
Encyclopedia
Fritz Hübner is a retired German operatic bass
. Active from the late 1950s through the 1980s, he was particularly known for his performances in operas by Richard Wagner
.
He was born in Sachsengrün (Zakšov in the Doupov Mountains of the former Czechoslovakia
) and studied at the Dessau
Conservatory before making his opera debut as Sparafucile in Rigoletto
at the Bernburg Landestheater in 1957. He sang the roles of Fafner and Hagen in Der Ring des Nibelungen
at the Bayreuth Festival
(1976–1980), performing in the "Hundredth Anniversary Ring" conducted by Pierre Boulez
and recorded for Philips Records
.
Hübner also sang in the world premieres of Siegfried Matthus
's Der letzte Schuss (The Last Shot) 1966, Ernst Hermann Meyer
's Reiter in der Nacht (Rider in the Night) 1973, and Rainer Kunad's Sabellicus 1974. Although he performed primarily in German opera houses, he sang at New York's Metropolitan Opera
as Hermann in seven performances of Tannhäuser
during the 1982/1983 season.
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
. Active from the late 1950s through the 1980s, he was particularly known for his performances in operas by Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
.
He was born in Sachsengrün (Zakšov in the Doupov Mountains of the former Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
) and studied at the Dessau
Dessau
Dessau is a town in Germany on the junction of the rivers Mulde and Elbe, in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. Since 1 July 2007, it is part of the merged town Dessau-Roßlau. Population of Dessau proper: 77,973 .-Geography:...
Conservatory before making his opera debut as Sparafucile in Rigoletto
Rigoletto
Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
at the Bernburg Landestheater in 1957. He sang the roles of Fafner and Hagen in Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a cycle of four epic operas by the German composer Richard Wagner . The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied...
at the Bayreuth Festival
Bayreuth Festival
The Bayreuth Festival is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner are presented...
(1976–1980), performing in the "Hundredth Anniversary Ring" conducted by Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
and recorded for Philips Records
Philips Records
Philips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also...
.
Hübner also sang in the world premieres of Siegfried Matthus
Siegfried Matthus
Siegfried Matthus is a German composer and opera director living in Berlin and is one of Germany's most often performed contemporary composers.- Biography :Matthus attended secondary school in Rheinsberg, followed by studies at the Hochschule für Musik...
's Der letzte Schuss (The Last Shot) 1966, Ernst Hermann Meyer
Ernst Hermann Meyer
Ernst Hermann Ludimar Meyer was a German composer and musicologist.Meyer was a significant composer and musicologist, his works include numerous songs, as...
's Reiter in der Nacht (Rider in the Night) 1973, and Rainer Kunad's Sabellicus 1974. Although he performed primarily in German opera houses, he sang at New York's Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
as Hermann in seven performances of Tannhäuser
Tannhäuser (opera)
Tannhäuser is an opera in three acts, music and text by Richard Wagner, based on the two German legends of Tannhäuser and the song contest at Wartburg...
during the 1982/1983 season.
Recordings
- GötterdämmerungGötterdämmerungis the last in Richard Wagner's cycle of four operas titled Der Ring des Nibelungen...
– Orchestra and Chorus of the Bayreuth Festival; Pierre Boulez, conductor (1979) Label: Philips RecordsPhilips RecordsPhilips Records is a record label that was founded by Dutch electronics company Philips. It was started by "Philips Phonographische Industrie" in 1950. Recordings were made with popular artists of various nationalities and also with classical artists from Germany, France and Holland. Philips also... - SiegfriedSiegfried (opera)Siegfried is the third of the four operas that constitute Der Ring des Nibelungen , by Richard Wagner. It received its premiere at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus on 16 August 1876, as part of the first complete performance of The Ring...
– Orchestra and Chorus of the Bayreuth Festival; Pierre Boulez, conductor (1980) Label: Philips Records - Das RheingoldDas Rheingoldis the first of the four operas that constitute Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen . It was originally written as an introduction to the tripartite Ring, but the cycle is now generally regarded as consisting of four individual operas.Das Rheingold received its premiere at the National Theatre...
– Orchestra and Chorus of the Bayreuth Festival; Pierre Boulez, conductor (1980) Label: Philips Records