Franz Crass (b. February 9, 1928) is a German bass-baritone. February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... A bass-baritone is a singing voice that shares certain qualities of both the baritone and the bass. ...

A native of Wipperfürth, Crass studied with Gerda Heuer in Wiesbaden and with Professor Clemens Glettenberg at the Hochschule für Musik in Köln. He won numerous competitions throughout Germany in the 1950's. In 1954 he made his debyt at the municipal theater in Krefeld; from 1956 he sang at the Landestheater Hannover. ---Sidenote START--- Wipperfürth is a Northrhine-Westfalian municipality in the Oberbergischer Kreis, about 40 km north-east of Cologne, and the eldest town in the Bergischen Land. ... Wiesbaden is a city in central Germany. ... A university school of music or college of music, or academy of music or conservatoire (British English) — also known as a conservatory (American English) or a conservatorium (Australian English) — is a higher education institution dedicated to teaching the art of music, including the playing of musical instruments, musical composition, musicianship... Köln may refer to: Cologne (German: Köln), the fourth largest city in Germany and largest city of the North Rhine-Westphalia state German Cruiser Köln that served from 1930-1945 mostly for the Kriegsmarine German Frigate Köln (1961-1982), a F120 Köln class frigate of... Krefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ...

Crass established a reputation as a Wagnerian early in his career, appearing at the Bayreuth Festival in 1959 and 1960. He made guest appearances throughout Germany, and was a regular member of the Köln Opera from 1962 until 1964. In addition to his work as a concert and oratorio singer, he became known for his work singing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was an influential German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or music dramas as he later came to call them). ... Bayreuth Festspielhaus, as seen in 1882 The annual Bayreuth Festival in Bayreuth, Germany is devoted principally (but not exclusively) to performances of operas by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner. ... An oratorio is a large musical composition for orchestra, vocal soloists and chorus. ... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart; January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was a prolific and highly influential composer of Classical music. ...

Crass ended his career abruptly due to hearing trouble in 1981; since then he has devoted himself to coaching younger singers.

Reference

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Crass-Franz.htm