Kieth Engen

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Kieth Engen (born April 5, 1925 in Frazee , Minnesota , † September 2, 2004 in Murnau am Staffelsee ) was an American opera singer ( bass ).

Life

His singing talent, which was encouraged by his parents, showed very early on. The Norwegian-American singer studied singing in California with Mc. Murray, then in Zurich, finally in Vienna a. a. with Elisabeth Radó . After completing his training, he initially worked as a concert bassist, but soon made his debut at the Graz City Theater. In 1955 he became a member of the Bavarian State Opera . Until his departure in 1996 (his last role was the mayor in Aribert Reimann's opera Das Schloss ) he stood there on stage more than 2122 times in 125 bass parts: Duke Bluebeard, Don Alfonso, Don Giovanni, King Phillip, Doctor (in Wozzeck by Alban Berg), Mephisto, König Heinrich, Raimondo, Seneca, Banquo, Basilio, Zaccahria, Don Fernando, Almaviva etc.

The bass player participated in several world premieres. In 1957 he sang in Munich in Hindemiths Harmonie der Welt , in 1968 in Stuttgart in the opera Prometheus by Carl Orff and in 1986 again in Munich in Belshazar by Volker David Kirchner .

Kieth Engen also sang at the Bayreuth Festival and in guest appearances on numerous European stages (in Paris, Strasbourg, Amsterdam, Turin, etc.) and also gave solo appearances as a lieder and concert singer. The collaboration with the organist, harpsichordist and conductor Karl Richter made him known as an interpreter of Johann Sebastian Bach's music.

In 1962 he was awarded the title of Bavarian Chamber Singer and the Bavarian Order of Merit.

At the beginning of his operatic career, Engen was also active outside of classical music under the pseudonym Stan Oliver . For example, he sang some songs for the films Das alten Försterhaus (1956) and Der kühne Schwimmer (1957). In 1956/57 he recorded the following hits with Polydor :

  • Black-Ballade / In Bombay it was Lili (No. 50 145)
  • Daddy, don't leave Alabama / My good Jonny (No. 50 351)
  • The Ohio Ghost Ship / A House in Havana (No. 50 106)
  • The Ohio Song / Men Need True Love (No. 50 415)
  • There is only one home / forget-me-not (No. 50 160)
  • Good ole Mississippi / Silver Moon of Missouri (# 50 270)

Engen was married to the opera singer and actress Erika Berghöfer (* 1928).

Discography (selection)

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Engen, Kieth
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American opera singer (bass)
DATE OF BIRTH April 5, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Frazee , Minnesota
DATE OF DEATH September 2, 2004
Place of death Murnau am Staffelsee