Schöne, Wolfgang
Schöne, Wolfgang
Schöne, Wolfgang, German baritone; b. Bad Gan-dersheim, Feb. 9, 1940. He received his vocal training at the Hochschules für Musik in Hannover and Hamburg (diploma, 1969), his principal teacher being Naan Pöld. He took prizes in competitions in Berlin, Bordeaux, ’s-Hertogenbosch, and Rio de Janeiro, and was active as a concert artist. In 1970 he launched his operatic career with engagements at the Württemberg State Opera in Stuttgart, the Hamburg State Opera, and the Vienna State Opera. In 1973 he became a member of the Württemberg State Opera, where he was honored as a Kammersänger. In 1984 he sang Don Giovanni at the reopening of the Stuttgart Opera. In 1990 he was engaged as the Count in Capriccio at the Salzburg Festival. He portrayed Dr. Schön at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in 1992. In 1997 he appeared as Amfortas at the Opéra de la Bastille in Paris. As a concert singer, he garnered extensive engagements in Europe and the Americas, appearing with many notable orchs. and as a recitalist. Among his operatic roles are Don Giovanni, Guglielmo, Count Almaviva, Eugene Onegin, Wolfram, Amfortas, Golaud, Mandryka, and Tom in Henze’s The English Cat, which role he created at the Schwetzingen Festival in 1983.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire