Franz Xaver Gerl low vocal range; Branscombe (1991) observes that the very low notes that Mozart included in the part of Sarastro have been "the despair of many a bass singer since." By 1787 he had joined the theatrical company of Emanuel Schikaneder, for which he sang the demanding role of Osmin in Mozart's opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio" and other roles. In 1789 the troupe settled at the Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna. Gerl participated in a system of joint composition used by Schikaneder's troupe, in which "Singspiele" were produced rapidly by having several composers collaborate. As such, Gerl may
Davis Cunningham Prince Anatole in "War and Peace", Pelléas in "Pelléas et Mélisande", and Belmonte in "The Abduction from the Seraglio". In 1960 he portrayed Mario Cavaradossi in "Tosca" for an ABC television production. On Dec 27, 1954 he portrayed Michele in the world premiere of Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Saint of Bleecker Street" on Broadway. In 1954, Cunningham joined the roster of principal tenors at the New York City Opera, where he first appeared in the title role of "The Tales of Hoffmann" in 1954. His other roles with the company included Rodolfo in "La bohème" (1954), Prince Ramiro in "La