KURT BAUM signed photo 1973 OPERA Singer Tenor REDUCED - $18 - (Louisville, KY)
KURT BAUM very nice signed photo approx 4x5 inches dated in his hand 1/25/73 below his signature. Glossy paper-stock, printed and distributed in Germany. KURT BAUM (March 15, 1908 – December 27, 1989) was an Austria-Hungary born American operatic tenor. He is best remembered for his 25 seasons spent with the Metropolitan Opera, between 1941 and 1966. Baum was at one time the amateur heavyweight boxing champion of Czechoslovakia and member of Max Schmeling's Sports Club in Cologne. In 1933 Baum won first prize at the Vienna International Singing Competition and accepted a 3-year contract with the Chicago Lyric Opera. He made his debut there as Radames in Verdi's Aida. Baum's debut with the Metropolitan Opera, which became his artistic home, came in November 1941 as the Italian singer in Der Rosenkavalier. Baum's roaring spinto voice easily reach the high-D flat in the Rosenkavalier Italian singer aria, in which he had express permission (via a letter) from the composer to interpolate the note. He appeared in his first major role at the Met, Don Alvaro, in January 1943. In 1952, Baum performed Radames in London at the behest of Queen Elizabeth II shortly after her coronation. Baum remained on the Met's full-time roster until the 1965-1966 season, appearing there for the last time as Radames at the Old Met's Farewell Gala in April 1966. His repertoire included cornerstone spinto roles such as Don Alvaro, Radames, Cavaradossi, Manrico, Lohengrin, Walther von Stolzing, Don José, Canio, Samson, Des Grieux, Turiddu, Enzo, Pollione, and Andrea Chénier, which he played beside such illustrious colleagues such as Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi, Zinka Milanov, Eleanor Steber and Risë Stevens. He won renown especially for his heroic voice, which can otherwise turn metallic over a performance, reliable technique and an amazing top register, which was lauded for its strength and virility. Baum became an American citizen and spent later years in New York City, where after the…
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