Franz Kalchmair

Who is Franz Kalchmair?

Franz Kalchmair is an operatic bass and interpreter of Bach cantatas along with other sacred or clerical music. As an opera singer, he is known for portraying such humorous roles as the pig farmer in Johann Strauss' The Gypsy Baron.

Franz Kalchmair was raised in Thalheim bei Wels, the son of a farmer. When he was 10 years old, he was admitted to the Sankt Florian as a choirboy and trained there to sing professionally.

He further developed his bass voice at the Bruckner-Konservatorium in Linz. His first engagements were at the Landestheater Sankt Pölten and the Sommerbühne Baden/Vienna. Although his singing career was interrupted when he was called back to Thalheim bei Wels to manage the family farm, his love of music guided him back to the stage years later.

He was a member of the Landestheater Linz Ensemble for over 20 years, and was a guest singer at the Vienna Volksoper under the lead of Fritz Muliar and at the Opera Graz. His many other engagements included Seespiele Mörbisch under the lead of Helmut Lohner, Landestheater Salzburg, Sommerbühne Baden/Vienna, St. Pölten Landestheater, Summer theatre Steyr, and tours through Germany and Denmark.