Josef Höpfl

Josef Höpfl was a German Heldenbariton who began as an alto in the Regensburger Domspatzen choir, before vocal training paid for by the Dresden court led to his stage debut there in 1898. He moved to Essen that same year, debuting as Wolfram, then to Karlsruhe, before returning to Dresden around 1900, where he created Hämerlein in the premiere of Strauss's Feuersnot in 1901. He later sang at Breslau, and in 1915 was engaged by Max von Schillings as dramaturg and senior stage director at the Berlin Court Opera. His roles included Wolfram, Escamillo, Tonio and Valentin.