Hans Sotin

Hans Sotin made a powerful impression in several venues in Europe well before he had reached the age of 30. His instrument had both a cutting edge and considerable velvet about the edges. His fluency in the upper register led him to the role of Wotan in Wagner's Ring der Nibelungen. There, he supplied a near ideal balance between declamatory vigor and a long-lined flow of beautiful tone. Only an interpretive shortfall kept him from being definitive in the daunting assignment. Over the years, some diminution in sheer size was noted, but the voice retained most of its handsome q...