Educated in Denmark, he appeared in various operatic parts at the Royal Theatre, Copenhagen. From around 1920 he sang in many European cities, specialising in the heroic tenor parts of Wagner's operas. The year 1926 saw his first performance at the Metropolitan, New York, as Tannhäuser. He retired from the stage in 1950.
Lauritz Melchior was born in Copenhagen in 1890 and died in Santa Monica, California, 1973.