# Walther Ludwig

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German opera singer

**Walther Ludwig** (17 March 1902 – 15 May 1981) was a German operatic [lyric tenor](/source/Lyric_tenor), particularly associated with [Mozart](/source/Mozart) roles and Schubert lieder.

## Biography

He was born on 17 March 1902 in [Bad Oeynhausen](/source/Bad_Oeynhausen).

He first studied medicine in [Freiburg](/source/Freiburg) before turning to voice studies in [Königsberg](/source/K%C3%B6nigsberg), where he made his debut in 1928. He then sang in [Schwerin](/source/Schwerin), where he created the title role in Paul Graeners's *Friedmann Bach* in 1931. He joined the [Städtische Oper Berlin](/source/St%C3%A4dtische_Oper_Berlin) in 1932, where he established himself in Mozart roles such as [Belmonte](/source/The_Abduction_from_the_Seraglio), [Don Ottavio](/source/Don_Giovanni), [Tamino](/source/The_Magic_Flute), [Idomeneo](/source/Idomeneo), [Ferrando](/source/Cos%C3%AC_fan_tutte), etc. After the war, he began appearing at the [Hamburg State Opera](/source/Hamburg_State_Opera), and made his debut at the [Vienna State Opera](/source/Vienna_State_Opera) in 1947 and at the [Salzburg Festival](/source/Salzburg_Festival) in 1948.

He also made guest appearances at [La Scala](/source/La_Scala) in Milan, the [Paris Opéra](/source/Palais_Garnier), the [Royal Opera House](/source/Royal_Opera_House) in London, the [Liceo](/source/Liceo) in Barcelona.

A stylish and musical lyric tenor, other notable roles included light Italian roles such as [Nemorino](/source/L'elisir_d'amore), [Ernesto](/source/Don_Pasquale), [Duke of Mantua](/source/Rigoletto), [Alfredo](/source/La_traviata), French lyric role such as [Wilhelm Meister](/source/Mignon). He left complete recordings of *[Die Entführung aus dem Serail](/source/Die_Entf%C3%BChrung_aus_dem_Serail)*, *[Die Zauberflöte](/source/Die_Zauberfl%C3%B6te)*, *[Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor](/source/Die_lustigen_Weiber_von_Windsor)*, *[Zar und Zimmermann](/source/Zar_und_Zimmermann)*, *[Die schöne Müllerin](/source/Die_sch%C3%B6ne_M%C3%BCllerin)*, *[Die Schöpfung](/source/Die_Sch%C3%B6pfung)*, and a very Germanic sounding [Verdi Requiem](/source/Verdi_Requiem). He was the very moving Evangelist in a live 1950 Vienna performance of Bach's [Matthew Passion](/source/Matthew_Passion) under Karajan, in which [Kathleen Ferrier](/source/Kathleen_Ferrier) sang, now available on CD.[1]

He taught in Berlin from 1952 until 1969. He died on 15 May 1981 in [Lahr, Germany](/source/Lahr%2C_Germany).

## Selected filmography

- *[I by Day, You by Night](/source/I_by_Day%2C_You_by_Night)* (1932)

- *[Count Woronzeff](/source/Count_Woronzeff)* (1934)

- *[Maria Ilona](/source/Maria_Ilona)* (1939)

- *[The Way to Freedom](/source/The_Way_to_Freedom)* (1941)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Paul Campion, *Ferrier: a Career Recorded* (London 2005).

## Sources

- [Biography on Operissimo.com](http://hosting.triboni.com/triboni/exec?method=com.operissimo.artist.webDisplay&id=ffcyoieagxaaaaabmvso&xsl=webDisplay&searchStr=Walther%20Ludwig) (in German)

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Opera](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Opera)
- [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Germany)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy 2 Czech Republic Netherlands Norway Latvia Poland Israel Catalonia Belgium Artists MusicBrainz 2 Discography of American Historical Recordings FID People BMLO Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef SNAC Yale LUX

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