Erwin Wohlfahrt

Erwin Wohlfahrt was a German operatic tenor who was born in Nuremberg in 1932. He achieved early professional recognition in 1954 with an engagement in Aachen and is famous for his portrayal of the role of Mime in the Der Ring des Nibelungen cycle. Wohlfahrt initially intended to become a conductor but transitioned to vocal studies under Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender at the Nuremberg Conservatory. His career included performances at the Komische Oper Berlin, where he sang the roles of Albert Herring in Albert Herring, Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, and Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. After a period at the Cologne Opera, he became a permanent member of the Hamburg State Opera. Wohlfahrt made a debut at the Bayreuth Festival (1963) as David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and subsequently performed as Mime under the direction of Karl Böhm and Herbert von Karajan. His discography includes recordings of Das Rheingold (1966), Siegfried (1966), and Fidelio (1968). Wohlfahrt’s final performance took place at the Salzburg Easter Festival in 1968, and he died later that year.