Franz Kalchmair

Franz Kalchmair (22 December 1939 – February 2020)[1] was an Austrian operatic bass and interpreter of Bach cantatas along with other sacred or clerical music.

As an opera singer, he is known for portraying such humorous roles as the pig farmer in Johann Strauss' The Gypsy Baron.

Franz Kalchmair was raised in Thalheim bei Wels, the son of a farmer.

He was a member of the Landestheater Linz Ensemble for over 20 years, and was a guest singer at the Vienna Volksoper under the lead of Fritz Muliar and at the Opera Graz.

His repertoire includes such lead bass roles as the title role in Falstaff, Kezal (The Bartered Bride), Osmin (Die Entführung aus dem Serail),[2] Sarastro (The Magic Flute), Prince Gremin (Eugene Onegin), and Baron Ochs (Der Rosenkavalier).