Franz Wild

Wild was born on the New Year's Eve of 1791 in Niederhollabrunn, near Vienna. From 1799 he sang in the choir of Klosterneuburg Monastery, where his musical talent was noted. In 1804 he became a singer in the Wiener Hofmusikkapelle, sent there by Antonio Salieri from whom he received lessons. He attended the Schottengymnasium in Vienna, and was a member of the chorus of the Theater in der Josefstadt, the Theater in der Leopoldstadt, and later in the Theater am Kärntnertor (the Royal Court Theatre) where he was given small solo parts.[1][2]

Through the mediation of Johann Nepomuk Hummel he was engaged in 1810 with the court orchestra of Nikolaus II, Prince Esterházy at Eisenstadt. In 1811 he was engaged by Ferdinánd Pálffy at the Theater an der Wien, where his debut was as Ramiro in Cinderella by Nicolas Isouard. From 1814 he was also in the court theatre. He had success in many operas including Mozart's The Magic Flute (as Tamino) and Don Giovanni (as Don Ottavio, later as Don Giovanni). In 1814 he married Maria Josepha Theresia von Kirchstetten, an actress at the Theater an der Wien.[1][2]

He toured Germany with great success in 1816, and in the following year was engaged at the court theatre in Darmstadt, remaining there until 1825, when he became a singer at the court theatre in Kassel. He returned to Vienna in 1829, where he was given a permanent engagement with the court theatre. He subsequently appeared in operas including Hérold's Zampa, Rossini's Otello and William Tell, Donizetti's Belisario, Bellini's Norma and Auber's Fra Diavolo. In the 1840s he was stage director.[1][2]

He was also active as a concert singer. He appeared elsewhere in Austria and Europe, including St Petersburg in 1839 and London in 1840, where he appeared as Max in Weber's Der Freischütz.[1][2]

He retired from the court theatre in 1855, and he died in Vienna on the New Year's Day of 1860, one day after his 68th birthday.[2] A statue of Wild, by the sculptor Raimund Novak, was unveiled in May 1865 at a ceremony at his grave in Währinger Cemetery.[3]