Lenz was born in Passau (Bavaria) as the son of the electoral police director and Passau chronicler Joseph Lenz and his wife Elisabeth Seigmann. He completed his secondary school studies and moved to Munich University in 1825 to study law because he wanted to pursue a career as a civil servant. During his studies he was repeatedly made aware of his beautiful bass baritone voice and generally encouraged to devote himself to the stage.
It took him a long time to give in to this urge and to have his voice auditioned by Josef Staudacher who also persuaded him to turn to dramatic art. He took singing lessons, enriched his theatrical and musical knowledge, left the academic lecture hall and entered the Munich Court Theatre on January 1, 1826.
The prophecies of the art experts came true insofar as he became an extraordinarily popular and esteemed vocal power of the ''Kunstinstitut'' which he never left. He dedicated 30 years continuously to his outstanding artistic power in the most admirable way and during this long time he was among the most popular stage singers of Munich.
On May 1, 1855, he retired. He died on June 19, 1862, and left behind the reputation of an extraordinarily dutiful artist.
His achievements as "Tristan", "Rocco" and "Jakob" remained long in memory. During his idle period he was occupied with the training of young talents as well as with composition. Especially as a song composer he had acquired a good reputation in smaller circles.
Source: Wikipedia
(Note: Translated from the German version of Wikipedia into English)
