Johann Michael Wächter

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Johann Michael Wächter (2 March 1794 – 26 May 1853) was an Austrian bass-baritone best known for singing in Richard Wagner’s operas. He grew up singing in church choirs in Vienna and made his stage debut in 1819 in Graz as Don Giovanni. He also sang in Bratislava, Vienna and Berlin. In 1827 he joined the Dresden Court Opera, where he spent the rest of his career. There he performed Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and took part in three Wagner premieres: Orsini in Rienzi (1842), the title role in Der fliegende Holländer (1843), and Biterolf in Tannhäuser (1845). The composer Hector Berlioz praised Wächter’s rich, expressive voice. Wagner, though a friend, later said Wächter was not suited to the difficult role of the Dutchman due to his build and movements. His wife, Therese Wächter-Wittman, was a mezzo-soprano at Dresden and created the role of Mary in The Flying Dutchman. Wächter died in Dresden in 1853.