Michael Bohnen

Michael Bohnen, born Franz Michael Bohnen on May 2, 1887, in Cologne, Germany, was a German opera singer known for his role as a bass-baritone. His early musical training began at the Cologne Conservatory under Fritz Steinbach and vocal studies with Richard Schulz-Dornburg. In 1910, Bohnen made his debut at the Düsseldorf City Theater. He quickly rose to prominence, performing at major opera houses across Europe and collaborating with notable figures such as Enrico Caruso and Benjamino Gigli. His international career included performances at the Bayreuth Festival and New York's Metropolitan Opera, where he debuted in 1923 in Mona Lisa by Max von Schillings. Bohnen also had a successful film career, appearing in over 30 films, including Die Herrin der Welt (1919) and Münchhausen (1943). He passed away on April 26, 1965, in Berlin.