Victor Braun

Braun, Victor

Victor Conrad Braun, baritone (b at Windsor, Ont 4 Aug 1935; d at Ulm, Germany 6 Jan 2001). Son of German Mennonite parents, Braun studied at the ROYAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC in Toronto and made his operatic debut as Sciarrone in Tosca in 1957. In 1963 he won the Grand Prize at the International Mozart Competition in Vienna, which led to engagement as the leading baritone with the Frankfurt Opera. He also performed in many of the world's leading opera houses, including Covent Garden, La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Paris, Hamburg, Munich, Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, Chicago, San Francisco, Santa Fe and many others.

Victor Braun had a large repertoire that encompassed more than 100 roles. He was justly famous for his portrayals of Don Giovanni, Scarpia, Iago, Jochanaan, Mandryka, Dr. Schon, Hans Sachs, Orest, Falstaff, King Lear and Golaud, a role he sang opposite his son, baritone Russell BRAUN in Pelleas et Melisande at the Salzburg Festival in 1997.

Known for his beautiful voice, excellent musicianship, onstage intensity and stylistic versatility, Braun was equally at home in the classic, Romantic, and 20th century repertoire. A champion of contemporary music, he appeared in numerous performances of works by Henze, Berio and Penderecki. Among his extensive discography are a much-praised Wolfram in Tannhäuser, conducted by Sir Georg Solti, and a recording of Schubert's Winterreise.

Victor Braun lived for many years in Germany and Belgium, but returned regularly to sing in Canada. He received critical acclaim as Rodrigo in Don Carlos, Dr. Schon in Lulu, Creon in Oedipus Rex, and in the title role of Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, all for the CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY. Braun made his stage farewell in summer 2000 at the Salzburg Festival, as Apollo in Offenbach's La Belle Helene.