Van Rooy, Anton (ius Maria Josephus
Van Rooy, Anton (ius Maria Josephus
Van Rooy, Anton(ius Maria Josephus), celebrated Dutch bass-baritone; b. Rotterdam, Jan. 1, 1870; d. Munich, Nov. 28, 1932. He studied voice with Julius Stockhausen in Frankfurt am Main. In 1897 he made his first appearance at the Bayreuth Festival as Wotan, a role he sang there each season until 1902; also appeared there as Hans Sachs in 1899 and as the Dutchman in 1901 and 1902. From 1898 to 1913 he sang at London’s Covent Garden. On Dec. 14,1898, he made his U.S. debut as Wotan in Die Walküreat the Metropolitan Opera in N.Y., remaining on its roster until 1908, except for 1900-01. In 1908 he was engaged as a regular member of the Frankfurt am Main Opera, retiring in 1913. He was particularly distinguished in Wagnerian roles, but also was noted for his interpretations of Escamillo, Valentin, and Don Fernando in Fidelio. He also distinguished himself as a lieder artist.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire