| Biography | ( b Velbert , 27Oct1941). German bass-baritone. He studied initially for a technical career, but took up singing in 1972. After making his début at Aachen in 1974, he was a member of the ensemble there until 1980, followed by three years at Karlsruhe. Welker made his début at La Scala, Milan, in 1982 as Telramund, at Covent Garden in 1986 as Pizarro and at the Metropolitan Opera in 1990, also as Pizarro. The dark, cutting timbre of his voice, allied to a strong stage presence, has made him an equally demonic Alberich and Caspar (Der Freischütz). His recordings include Pizarro, Telramund and lesser-known works such as Franz Schubert's Fierrabras, Franz Schmidt's Notre Dame and E.W. Korngold's Wunder der Heliane. |