Willy Bader

Willy Bader was a German bass who studied with Richard Senff in Düsseldorf and began his career in 1909 at Krefeld, then held engagements at Elberfeld and Bremen; he appeared as a guest at Covent Garden in 1913, singing Marke and Hunding. He joined the Dresden State Opera in 1922, remaining until his retirement in 1939, and created the Opera Singer in the premiere of Strauss's Intermezzo in 1924; he also took part in the 1925 premiere of Busoni's Doktor Faust and sang at the Bayreuth Festival in 1924 and 1925. He withdrew from a scheduled farewell performance as Sarastro at the last moment, remained in Dresden after the war as a voice teacher, and later moved to Bremen, where he died.