Hans Hotter

The German bass-baritone and opera producer Hans Hotter, famous for his Wagner performances as Wotan, died near Munich on 8 December 2003 aged 94.

Born in Offenbach-am-Main on 19 January 1909, Hotter lived in Munich for most of his childhood, initially studying organ and piano at the Munich Hochschule with the aim of later taking up conducting. Persuaded by his teacher Matthaus Römer to switch to singing, he attracted attention straight away, from his first engagements at Opava and Wroclaw. At the beginning of a career that lasted over half a century, he had to work at his acting skills before taking on major roles.

He had important relationships with the Munich Opera (under Clemens Krauss he sang Olivier in the first performance of Richard Strauss's Capriccio), the Bayreuth Festival, Covent Garden and the Vienna State Opera. He officially retired in 1972, but continued to sing well into the 1980s. Honours include the Ring of the City of Vienna, presented to him on his ninetieth birthday.

Posted: 22 December 2003

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