Schmitt-Walter, Karl

Opera singer (baritone)

Born: 23.12.1900 in Germersheim

Died: 14.01.1985 in Kreuth

Schmitt-Walter studied at the conservatory in Nuremberg with Gustav Landauer. After his debut at the Stadttheater there in 1921 and further engagements at the Stadttheater Oberhausen, the Landestheater Saarbrücken and the Stadttheater Dortmund, he was engaged at the Wiesbaden Theater in 1929 on the recommendation of the chief conductor Joseph Rosenstock (1895-1985), where he remained until 1935 and worked on important roles in his field. From 1935, he was a member of the ensemble of the Deutsches Opernhaus in Berlin.

In 1949, he sang the role of Papageno in Mozart's "Magic Flute" at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Wilhelm Furtwängler and was engaged as a lyric baritone at the Munich State Opera from 1950. His interpretation of Beckmesser in Wagner's "Meistersinger" at the Bayreuth Festival from 1956-61 is one of the highlights of his career. As Beckmesser, he took his leave of the stage in Wiesbaden in 1963.

He was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Bavarian Order of Merit and was an honorary citizen of the town of Germersheim.