 The title has been awarded by the Bavarian Ministry of Culture since 1955 for outstanding artistic achievements to singing soloists of the Bavarian State Opera, the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz and the Staatstheater Nürnberg., more than 130 artists have been honoured.After World War II, the title has been given by the Hamburg Senate since 1961. , it has been awarded 28 times since 1928.