Helmut Krebs

Helmut Krebs (October 8, 1913 in Dortmund – August 30, 2007 in Berlin) was a German tenor in opera and concert, who sang a wide range of roles from Baroque to contemporary works.

Krebs studied at the Dortmund Conservatory and the Berlin Musikhochschule with Paul Luhmann, and later privately with Max Meili.

He began singing in concert in 1937 and made his stage debut at the Volksoper Berlin in 1938, but the war interrupted his career.

He also took part in creation of contemporary works such as Henze's Konig Hirsch, Arnold Schoenberg's Moses und Aron, Carl Orff's Antigonae, also singing as Albert in Rolf Liebermann's Leonore 40-45, the title role in Igor Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex, and Pelléas in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande.

In the 1950s, he began exploring ancient music and became a noted interpreter of Monteverdi's L'Orfeo, where his evenly controlled technique, wide vocal range, expressive declamation and highly individual timbre were shown to great effect.