James King (singer, 1925)

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James King (born May 22, 1925 in Dodge City , Kansas , † November 20, 2005 in Naples , Florida ) was an American opera singer.

Life

James King was born the son of a sheriff in Dodge City, Kansas. Initially trained as a baritone, he soon switched to the tenor subject. After his training he was only active as a teacher at the University of Kentucky for a long time . It wasn't until 1961 that he decided to switch to the stage. The newly opened Deutsche Oper Berlin engaged the 35-year-old singer, where he made his debut as Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos .

In 1963 he made his debut in the same role at the Vienna State Opera , where he later became a chamber singer and honorary member . In 1965 he made his debut as Siegmund in Die Walküre at the Bayreuth Festival . There, as at the Salzburg Festival , he was one of the acclaimed stars for many years. His outstanding roles included the roles of Wagner and Richard Strauss, which he sang at all the major opera houses in the world.

James King took his leave of the stage in 1997 in Washington, DC with the role of Aegisth . From 1984 to 2002 he taught singing at Indiana University at Bloomington .

literature

Audio samples

  • Sound document (MP3; 896 kB) Richard Wagner, Die Walküre 1st act: Wehwalt are you really called? - Siegmund is my name (scene Sieglinde, Siegmund); Bayreuth Festival Theater, 1967

Web links

personal data
SURNAME King, James
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American opera singer
DATE OF BIRTH May 22, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Dodge City , Kansas
DATE OF DEATH November 20, 2005
Place of death Naples , Florida