Emil Scaria

Emil Scaria studied at the Vienna conservatory and made his debut at Pest in 1860. It failed, and he left the stage to restudy with Manuel García in London, returning by way of Dessau, Leipzig and Dresden. His voice had the dark colouring of a true bass but a range wide enough to take baritone roles with equal success. He was engaged at the Vienna Hofoper from 1872 until his death, sang Wotan in the first Berlin and London Ring cycles, and created Gurnemanz in Parsifal at Bayreuth in 1882. He suffered two mental breakdowns, and died insane at 47.