Putnam Griswold

After having sung the role of Gurnemanz in Savage's production of Parsifal in America (1904–1905), he became in 1906 a regular member of the Berlin Opera.

There he remained, appearing also as guest in various German cities, until he came to the Metropolitan Opera House in 1911, where through his interpretation of Wagner's heroes, he immediately won over the public and critics.

Griswold was the first American bass to sing the great Wagner roles at the Metropolitan, where he was compared with the most distinguished of his foreign predecessors.

He had been a prime favorite in Berlin, where the critics had praised him as the greatest foreign interpreter of Wotan and he was twice decorated by Emperor William (Kaiser Wilhelm).

[citation needed] Following his death, German Emperor Wilhelm II conveyed his gratitude to Mrs. Griswold for sending him a medallion of her husband portraying Hagen in Wagner's Götterdämmerung.