Walter Felsenstein

He was one of the most important exponents of textual accuracy, productions in which dramatic and musical values were exquisitely researched and balanced.

His most famous students were Götz Friedrich and Harry Kupfer both of whom went on to have important careers developing Felsenstein's work.

In 1942 he produced Le nozze di Figaro at the Salzburg Festival, with Clemens Krauss conducting, and sets and costumes by Stefan Hlawa.

Although his presence in the German Democratic Republic was "mostly an accident of geography," he was able to get the support of the government do his life's work.

He translated and edited numerous operatic works into German, including Carmen (Georges Bizet, 1949) and La traviata (Giuseppe Verdi, 1955).