Trinke Liebchen trinke schnell

Franz Völker's career was made almost exclusively in Europe, and most particularly in Germany, so that his name is not always known among American opera buffs, but in fact he was one of the foremost Wagnerian tenors of the 20th century. He was, in addition, a remarkable singer of Lieder and Operetta. Born in 1899, his career spanned a difficult time in Germany and Europe generally, and travel often ranged from difficult to impossible. Nevertheless, his recordings bear ample testimony to his extraordinary vocal and stylistic prowess.