Ulrik Cold

Ulrik Cold was a Danish operatic bass who was one of the leading singers of his generation. He made his professional debut in 1963 at the Royal Danish Theatre as Seneca in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, and remained a member of the company for the rest of his career. He also served as the director of the theatre from 1975 to 1977. He sang a wide range of roles, from Mozart to Wagner, and was especially admired for his portrayal of Sarastro in The Magic Flute, which he sang in Ingmar Bergman's film adaptation of the opera. He also recorded the roles of Gurnemanz in Parsifal and Argante in Rinaldo, among others. He appeared as a guest artist at many international opera houses, such as the English National Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and the Wexford Festival Opera. He was awarded the Order of the Dannebrog by the Danish government in 1989. He died of illness in 2010, at the age of 71.