Austrian opera star Spas Wenkoff dies aged 84
AFP
VIENNA- One of the most renowned tenors of the 1970s and 1980s, Austria's Spas Wenkoff, has died at his home in Bad Ischl, aged 84, the Vienna State Opera announced on Tuesday.
It said the Bulgarian-born opera singer died Monday but did not give the cause.
Born on September 23, 1928, in Veliko Tarnovo, Wenkoff began his career as a tenor singing operettas in the 1950s before making his name at the Dresden Opera after moving to the former East Germany in 1975.
He established himself internationally through his performance as Tristan in Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde", one of many roles he played by the famous composer.
Following this breakthrough, Wenkoff appeared at the Wagnerian festival in Bayreuth, at New York's Metropolitan Opera, the Berlin and Munich operas before debuting in 1977 at the Vienna State Opera in the role of Max in "Freischutz" (The Freeshooter).
His last performance on stage was in January 1991.
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He established himself internationally through his performance as Tristan in Wagner's "Tristan and Isolde", one of many roles he played by the famous composer.
Following this breakthrough, Wenkoff appeared at the Wagnerian festival in Bayreuth, at New York's Metropolitan Opera, the Berlin and Munich operas before debuting in 1977 at the Vienna State Opera in the role of Max in "Freischutz" (The Freeshooter).
His last performance on stage was in January 1991.
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