Franz Kalchmair

Franz Kalchmair ( born December 22, 1939 in Wels ) is an Austrian opera and lieder singer.

Kalchmair has distinguished himself as a performer of clerical music and Bach cantatas. Particularly well known he was as a bass buffo. As a performer, funny games (such as pigs Baron Johann Strauss ' Gypsy Baron or as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof ) he was particularly celebrated.

Franz Kalchmair was born in Wels, the son of a farmer. As a 10 - year-old he came to Saint Florian (Linz -Land), to visit the main school and became a member of Florian Boys' Choir at St. Florian's Priory.

Franz Kalchmair studied at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz. First engagements took him to the State Theatre in St. Pölten and the summer stage Baden. However, he took over the family farm. The love of music led him back to the stage.

He was a longtime member of the ensemble of the Linz State Theatre and been a guest singer at the Volksoper in Vienna under the direction of Prof. Fritz Muliar and at the Graz Opera. Other engagements: Mörbisch Lake Festival under the direction of Prof. Helmuth Lohner, Salzburg State Theater, Summer Stage Baden State Theatre St. Polten.

His repertoire includes many of the great bass operatic roles such as Falstaff or Tannhäuser.

He was awarded the Honorary Ring of the community Thalheim bei Wels. He played a number of ballads and arias CDs, including the ballads of Carl Loewe.