11 Facts About Heinrich Schlusnus

Heinrich Schlusnus was Germany's foremost lyric baritone of the interwar period.

Heinrich Schlusnus sang at Nuremberg from 1915 to 1917 and at the prestigious Berlin State Opera from 1917 until 1951.

Heinrich Schlusnus was already a successful singer, and yet he started again from scratch under the tutelage of Louis Bachner.

Under Bachner, Heinrich Schlusnus liberated his timbre and expanded his range.

Heinrich Schlusnus sang simply as one speaks, naturally and distinctly.

Heinrich Schlusnus excelled in the lighter Wagnerian parts, too, and in operatic works by other German composers.

Furthermore, Heinrich Schlusnus earned critical renown as a concert artist and lieder singer despite facing stiff competition on the recital platform from such outstanding rival baritones as Herbert Janssen, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, Gerhard Husch, Karl Hammes, Rudolf Bockelmann and Karl Schmitt-Walter.

In 1924 Heinrich Schlusnus formed a successful partnership with Franz Rupp that helped establish Rupp as one of the leading chamber musicians in Germany.

Shortly after Rupp's farewell letter, Heinrich Schlusnus denounced him to the Reich Chamber of Culture; Rupp only escaped being sent to a labour camp after an adjutant of Goebbels' interceded on his behalf.

Heinrich Schlusnus died in Frankfurt, not long after retiring from the stage, at the age of 63.

Heinrich Schlusnus was heard often on German radio broadcasts made prior to, and during, World War II.