Peter Anders (tenor) facts for kids
Peter Anders (born July 1, 1908 – died September 10, 1954) was a famous German opera singer. He was a tenor, which means he sang high notes. Peter Anders performed many different types of songs. He sang in German, Italian, and French operas. He started with lighter, "lyric" roles. Later, he also sang powerful, "dramatic" roles very well. He was also known for singing German art songs called lieder.
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Early Life and Training
Peter Anders was born in Essen, a city in Germany. He loved music from a young age. He went to the Berlin Music Academy to study singing. His teachers included Ernst Grenzebach. Later, he also had private lessons with Lula Mysz-Gmeiner. He even married her daughter, Susanne.
First Performances
In 1931, Peter Anders performed in a show called La belle Hélène in Berlin. The next year, he made his official opera debut. This happened in Heidelberg. He played the part of Jacquino in the opera Fidelio.
Opera Career Highlights
Peter Anders sang in many important opera houses. He performed in cities like Darmstadt (1933–1935) and Cologne (1935–1936). He also sang in Hannover (1937–1938).
Munich and Berlin
From 1938 to 1940, he was a singer at the Munich State Opera. While there, he helped create a new opera by Strauss called Friedenstag. After Munich, he moved back to Berlin. He sang at the Berlin State Opera from 1940 to 1948.
Famous Roles
During this time, he sang many well-known "lyric" roles. These included:
- Belmonte in The Abduction from the Seraglio
- Tamino in The Magic Flute
- Lyonel in Martha
- Hans in The Bartered Bride
- Hoffmann in Les contes d'Hoffmann
- Alfredo in La traviata
- Rodolfo in La boheme
Taking on Bigger Roles
Starting in 1949, Peter Anders began to sing more challenging roles. These were often called "dramatic" roles. He was very successful with these too. Some of these powerful roles included:
- Florestan in Fidelio
- Max in Der Freischütz
- Tannhäuser in Tannhäuser
- Lohengrin in Lohengrin
- Walther in Die Meistersinger
- Siegmund in Die Walküre
- Radames in Aida
- Otello in Otello
International Appearances
Peter Anders also traveled to perform in other countries. He made guest appearances at the Royal Opera House in London. He also sang at La Monnaie in Brussels and the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. He even performed at the famous Glyndebourne Festival.
Beyond Opera
Besides opera, Peter Anders was a very versatile singer. He also performed in several operettas. Operettas are lighter, more fun musical shows. He was often heard on German radio. He also gave many concerts. He was active in oratorios, which are large musical pieces for choir and orchestra. He also gave many recitals of lieder, which are German art songs.
During World War II
During the Second World War, Peter Anders continued to perform. He entertained German troops and took part in public events. This meant he did not have to join the armed forces.
Tragic End
Peter Anders was at the peak of his career when he died. He was in a car accident in Hamburg. He was only 46 years old. Even though his life ended too soon, he made many recordings. These recordings have been re-released on CD, so people can still enjoy his amazing voice today.
