Gerhard Frei

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Gerhard Frei (born February 8, 1911 in Breslau ; † December 23, 1989 in Berlin ) was a German opera singer (bass) and actor .

Life

Gerhard Frei was born the son of a blacksmith in Breslau . After school he learned the trade of a mechanic, which however subsequently led him to unemployment. While helping out at a gas station, he indulged his love for singing and was overheard by a music critic. This procured him a training position at the Breslau Conservatory and was accepted. After graduation, Gerhard Frei was signed to the Görlitz Theater in 1939 and had an important role in his first role as “Landgrave” in Richard Wagner's Tannhäuser . He also played, among others, at this stage the "Gurnemanz" in Wagner's Parsifal and "Sarastro" in the Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart .

After the Second World War, he first worked as an actor at the Oberrheinische Städtebühne and then went to the State Theater in Halle. Here Gerhard Frei finally decided in favor of the opera. In 1948 Walter Felsenstein brought him to the Komische Oper Berlin . The urge for new demands led him to the German State Opera Berlin in 1954 , of which he was a member until his farewell performance on May 8, 1976.

In 1955 Frei was seen as a criminal bailiff in the DEFA classic and fairy tale film " Der Teufel vom Mühlenberg ", where he was able to convincingly show off his impressive bass in the wild dance scene at the castle.

Gerhard Frei's voice can be heard on many records, including couplets by Otto Reutter , to whom his love belonged. He also acted as an actor in several feature films.

Gerhard Frei was married to the opera singer Irmgard Arnold .

Filmography

theatre

Awards

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Private obituary notice in the Berliner Zeitung of December 28, 1989, p. 9
  2. ^ Berliner Zeitung of February 7, 1986; P. 7.
  3. ^ Berliner Zeitung of February 10, 1982; P. 7.
  4. ↑ Berliner Zeitung of April 29, 1976; P. 6.
  5. ^ New Germany of December 28, 1989; P. 7.
personal data
SURNAME Free, Gerhard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German opera singer (bass) and actor
DATE OF BIRTH February 8, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH Wroclaw
DATE OF DEATH December 23, 1989
Place of death Berlin