Berthold Schwarz Berthold Schwarz Berthold Schwarz (sometimes spelled Schwartz), also known as Berthold the Black and "der Schwartzer", was a legendary German (or in some accounts Danish or Greek) alchemist of the late 14th century, credited with the invention of gunpowder by 15th- through 19th-century European literature. The purported period of Schwarz' activity (late 14th century) thus falls between the first reports of gunpowder in Europe (late 13th century) and the development of effective applications in artillery (mid 15th century). It is unclear whether Schwarz is a historical person. It has been suggested that he was a historical alchemist who had developed
Hanna Schwarz Hanna Schwarz Hanna Schwarz (born 15 August 1943), is a German mezzo-soprano and contralto singer in opera and concert. In 1976 she performed the parts of Fricka and Erda in the centenary production of Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" at the Bayreuth Festival, staged by Patrice Chéreau. Schwarz studied psychology and voice in Hamburg and continued at the Folkwang Hochschule and at the Musikhochschule Hannover. She became a member of the Staatsoper Hannover and made her debut as Siegrune in Richard Wagner's "Die Walküre". Her first major success was Maddalena in Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto". In 1972 she appeared in the