Paul Hansen (3 April 1886 â€" 11 November 1967) was a Danish opera
singer and actor. Hansen started his opera career as a tenor but later
increased his range to take on baritone roles. In 1917 Hansen, now
working in Berlin, branched into silent movies and in 1919 took on the
romantic lead in The Mistress of the World.Hansen's initial occupation
was as a copper-engraver but he harboured desires to become an opera
singer. He studied in Copenhagen at the Royal Chamber under the
tutelage of baritone Albert Hoeberg (1879â€"1949) and the tenor
Hermann Spiro. Hansen made his operatic stage debut in Copenhagen at
the Royal Danish Theatre in 1908 as a tenor, when he appeared as
Sverkel in the romantic opera Liden Kirsten. He later travelled to
Berlin, where he studied under both Louise Reuss-Belce and Lilli
Lehmann. He extended his vocal range during his time in Berlin and by
1919 he was able to take on both tenor and baritone roles.During his
career he mastered 150 roles using both singer ranges, but tended to
prefer operettas. As a young tenor he was popular in heroic leads and
appeared in several classical Wagner interpretations, including the
title roles in Lohengrin, Tannhäuser and Parsifal and as Walther von
Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Hansen also performed the
roles of Don José in Bizet's Carmen and the hunter Konrad in the
romantic opera Hans Heiling by Heinrich Marschner. As a baritone he
took on the title character in Verdi's Rigoletto.In 1925, with his
film career behind him, Hansen took on the role as Director of the
State Theatre of Thuringia, based in Gera. He held the role until
1930, rarely appearing on stage after this period. When his singing
career ended, he returned to Copenhagen where he became a music
teacher. He later moved to Helsinki where he died in 1967 at the age
of 81.
singer and actor. Hansen started his opera career as a tenor but later
increased his range to take on baritone roles. In 1917 Hansen, now
working in Berlin, branched into silent movies and in 1919 took on the
romantic lead in The Mistress of the World.Hansen's initial occupation
was as a copper-engraver but he harboured desires to become an opera
singer. He studied in Copenhagen at the Royal Chamber under the
tutelage of baritone Albert Hoeberg (1879â€"1949) and the tenor
Hermann Spiro. Hansen made his operatic stage debut in Copenhagen at
the Royal Danish Theatre in 1908 as a tenor, when he appeared as
Sverkel in the romantic opera Liden Kirsten. He later travelled to
Berlin, where he studied under both Louise Reuss-Belce and Lilli
Lehmann. He extended his vocal range during his time in Berlin and by
1919 he was able to take on both tenor and baritone roles.During his
career he mastered 150 roles using both singer ranges, but tended to
prefer operettas. As a young tenor he was popular in heroic leads and
appeared in several classical Wagner interpretations, including the
title roles in Lohengrin, Tannhäuser and Parsifal and as Walther von
Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Hansen also performed the
roles of Don José in Bizet's Carmen and the hunter Konrad in the
romantic opera Hans Heiling by Heinrich Marschner. As a baritone he
took on the title character in Verdi's Rigoletto.In 1925, with his
film career behind him, Hansen took on the role as Director of the
State Theatre of Thuringia, based in Gera. He held the role until
1930, rarely appearing on stage after this period. When his singing
career ended, he returned to Copenhagen where he became a music
teacher. He later moved to Helsinki where he died in 1967 at the age
of 81.
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