Erich Kunz (20 May 1909 in Vienna – 8 September 1995 in Vienna) was an Austrian operatic bass baritone, particularly associated with the roles of Papageno and Beckmesser.
Erich Kunz Austrian bass-baritone 1909-1995
He studied in Vienna with Lierhammer and Duhan, and made his stage debut in Opava, as Osmin, in 1933. He then sang in Plauen (1936–37), Breslau (1937–41).
He made his debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1940, where he quickly established himself as a specialist of Mozart roles such as Figaro, Leporello, Guglielmo, Papageno, roles he also sang at the Salzburg Festival and Aix-en-Provence Festival. He was also renowned for his portrayal of Beckmesser, which he sang at the Bayreuth Festival in 1943 and 1951.
He made guest appearances at the Paris Opéra, and sang at the Metropolitan Opera in New York (1952–54).
Considered an outstanding singing-actor with a superb sense of comedy, he also enjoyed great success in operetta. Several recorded performances as Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus are available.
He can be seen as Faninal in Paul Czinner’s movie of Der Rosenkavalier with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
Bayreuther Festspiele
1951
Metropolitan Opera
[Met Performance] CID:161130   Don Giovanni {158} Metropolitan Opera House; 11/26/1952 Debuts: Hilde Zadek, Erich Kunz Review |
| [Met Performance] CID:161230 Don Giovanni {159} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/6/1952 Broadcast |
| [Met Performance] CID:161250 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {266} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/8/1952 Review |
| [Met Performance] CID:161290 Don Giovanni {160} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/12/1952 |
| [Met Performance] CID:161340 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {267} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/17/1952 |
| [Met Performance] CID:161390 Don Giovanni {161} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/22/1952 |
| [Met Performance] CID:161500 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {268} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/2/1953 |
| [Met Performance] CID:161630 Don Giovanni {162} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/15/1953 Review |
| [Met Performance] CID:161700 Der Rosenkavalier {144} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/22/1953 Debuts: Endre Koreh, Adelino Palomanos, Rudolf Mayreder Review |
| [Met Performance] CID:161750 Der Rosenkavalier {145} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/26/1953 |
| [Met Performance] CID:161860 Der Rosenkavalier {146} Metropolitan Opera House; 02/4/1953 |
[Met Performance] CID:164010   Le Nozze di Figaro {130} Metropolitan Opera House; 11/20/1953 Debuts: Irmgard Seefried, Lisa Della Casa, Maria Leone, Sandra Warfield Reviews |
| [Met Performance] CID:164040 Le Nozze di Figaro {131} Metropolitan Opera House; 11/23/1953 |
| [Met Performance] CID:164140 Le Nozze di Figaro {132} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/3/1953 |
[Met Performance] CID:164220  Don Giovanni {168} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/10/1953 Debut: Cesare Valletti Reviews |
| [Met Performance] CID:164280 Le Nozze di Figaro {133} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/16/1953 |
| [Met Performance] CID:164320 Don Giovanni {169} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/19/1953 Review |
| [Met Performance] CID:164380 Le Nozze di Figaro {134} Metropolitan Opera House; 12/26/1953 Broadcast |
| [Met Performance] CID:164440 Don Giovanni {170} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/1/1954 |
| [Met Performance] CID:164490 Don Giovanni {171} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/6/1954 |
| [Met Performance] CID:164530 Le Nozze di Figaro {135} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/9/1954 |
| [Met Performance] CID:164640 Don Giovanni {172} The American Academy of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 01/19/1954 |
| [Met Performance] CID:164700 Don Giovanni {173} Metropolitan Opera House; 01/25/1954 Review |
