Heinrich Gudehus

Heinrich Gudehus (March 30, 1845 – October 9, 1909) was a German operatic tenor who was particularly celebrated for his performances in the operas of Richard Wagner and in the dramatic French opera repertoire. In his youth he studied both the piano and organ with court organist .

Following in the footsteps of his father who was a teacher, he began his professional life as an educator in 1866; Some of the parts he sang there included Siegfried in a complete staging of The Ring Cycle in 1885 and Tristan in Tristan und Isolde in 1886. Wagner traveled specifically to Dresden to hear him sing in 1881 which led to a contract at the Bayreuth Festival. He made multiple appearances at Bayreuth between 1882 and 1889; making his debut there in the title role of Parsifal on July 28, 1882. It was notably only the second time that opera had been staged at that point in history. Other appearances at Bayreuth included Tristan in Tristan und Isolde in 1886 and Walther von Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in 1888.

Gudehus performed Walther von Stolzing for his debut at the Royal Opera House in London on June 4, 1884. His other repertoire in London included Max in Der Freischütz, Tristan, Walther von Stolzing, and the title roles in Lohengrin and Tannhäuser. He also performed the title role in a concert version of Parsifal at Royal Albert Hall in 1884. Other guest appearances included performances at the Oper Frankfurt and the Vienna State Opera in 1885–1886.

Gudehus performed Tannhäuser for his debut at the Metropolitan Opera on November 28, 1890. Other parts he sang at the Met included Florestan in Fidelio, Jean of Leyden in Le Prophète, Raoul de Nangis, Siegfried in Götterdämmerung, Siegmund in Die Walküre, Tannhäuser, and Tristan. After one season in New York he returned to the Royal Opera, Berlin where he performed until his retirement from the stage in 1896.

Later life In his later life he worked as a voice teacher in Dresden. He died in Dresden on October 9, 1909. He is buried at cemetery.