Hotter, Hans (1909–2003)

German bass-baritone. Initially an organist and choirmaster, studying church music, he later turned to opera. After studying with Roemer, a pupil of De Reszke, he made his debut in 1929 at Troppau, and later sang at Breslau, Prague, and Hamburg. In 1940 he became a member of the Munich and Vienna operas. He sang at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 1947–67, and at Bayreuth from 1952. He created roles in Strauss's Friedenstag/Day of Freedom (1938), Capriccio (1942), and Die Liebe der Danae (1944). He produced the Ring at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 1962–64. He was one of the leading Wagner singers of his day and also an impressive actor. Both these qualities were seen at their best in his Wotan, which he sang for the last time in Paris in 1972. His other roles included Sachs, the Dutchman, Don Giovanni, and Palestrina's Borromeo. Late in his career he sang Berg's Schigolch in Munich, San Francisco (1989), and Paris (1991). He was the Speaker in Schoenberg's Gurrelieder/Songs of Gurre at the 1994 London Promenade concerts.