Hans Hotter was born in 1909 in Offenbach-am-Main, in Germany, of Austrian parents. He studied in Münich with Matthaus Romer, and then worked as a choirmaster and organist before making his operatic début in 1930.
He had a large, warm voice and a noble stage presence. Although pre-eminent in the Wagner parts especially as Sachs (Die Meistersinger von N├╝rnberg) and Wotan (The Ring Cycle), he had a wide repertoire of bass-baritone r├┤les, including those of Richard Strauss, and also Italian bass parts.
He sang his last major stage part in 1972 but continued to appear in smaller character parts. He sang Shigolch in Alban BergΓÇÖs Lulu as recently as 1989 and 1991. His musical refinement also led to great success in performances and recordings of lieder and oratorio. Like several singers of his generation, he occasionally took on the job of directing opera, and, in 1962-64, he produced The Ring Cycle at Covent Garden. He has also been a highly successful singing teacher.
