Brigitte Fassbaender
Encyclopedia
Brigitte Fassbaender is a mezzo-soprano
opera singer, a stage director and since 1997 Intendant
of the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck
, Austria. She holds the title Kammersängerin from the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Vienna Staatsoper.
, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender
. The family settled in Nuremberg
after World War II. She spent her early career in Munich.
in 1961, where her first leading role was Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann
. Fassbaender sang Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier
) in Munich
, in 1967, the role that launched her international career. In 1971, she sang at Covent Garden
and made her Metropolitan Opera
debut in 1974.
In addition to her operatic triumphs, Fassbaender has achieved success in the concert hall as a Lieder singer and in movies, singing the role of Prince Orlofsky in the 1984 film production of Strauss' Die Fledermaus
. She has made dozens of recordings—operas, Lieder (including Schubert's 'Winterreise
' and 'Schwanengesang
'), oratorio
s (Bach
's Christmas Oratorio
, Handel
's Messiah
, etc.) and appeared in numerous televised opera productions now available on DVD. These include signature roles such as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, both conducted by frequent collaborator Carlos Kleiber
(whose birthday, in a different year, she shared). Fassbaender has also taught master classes.
The multi talented Brigitte Fassbaender recently added another facet to her accomplishments. In 2010 she wrote the book and texts for a successful musical - "Lulu - das Musical". "Shylock!", a musical based on Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and the second collaboration with the composer Stephan Kanyar will premiere in Innsbruck in 2012.
In recent years, Fassbaender has held directorial positions. She was the Opera director at the Staatstheater Braunschweig
for two years from 1995 to 1997. In 1999, she became Intendantin (Managing Director) of the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck. In January 2011, the French Government appointed her an honorary Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur .
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
opera singer, a stage director and since 1997 Intendant
Intendant
The title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
of the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
, Austria. She holds the title Kammersängerin from the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Vienna Staatsoper.
Biography
Fassbaender was born in Berlin, the daughter of screen actress Sabine Peters and the celebrated German baritoneBaritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender
Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender
Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender was a German operatic baritone, particularly associated with Mozart and Verdi roles...
. The family settled in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
after World War II. She spent her early career in Munich.
Career
Brigitte Fassbaender studied singing with her father, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, at the Nuremberg Conservatory. She joined Munich's Bavarian State OperaBavarian State Opera
The Bavarian State Opera is an opera company based in Munich, Germany.Its orchestra is the Bavarian State Orchestra.- History:The opera company which was founded under Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy has been in existence since 1653...
in 1961, where her first leading role was Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann
Les contes d'Hoffmann
Les contes d'Hoffmann is an opéra by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on short stories by E. T. A...
. Fassbaender sang Octavian (Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier
Der Rosenkavalier is a comic opera in three acts by Richard Strauss to an original German libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It is loosely adapted from the novel Les amours du chevalier de Faublas by Louvet de Couvrai and Molière’s comedy Monsieur de Pourceaugnac...
) in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, in 1967, the role that launched her international career. In 1971, she sang at Covent Garden
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
and made her Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
debut in 1974.
In addition to her operatic triumphs, Fassbaender has achieved success in the concert hall as a Lieder singer and in movies, singing the role of Prince Orlofsky in the 1984 film production of Strauss' Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus
Die Fledermaus is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée.- Literary sources :...
. She has made dozens of recordings—operas, Lieder (including Schubert's 'Winterreise
Winterreise
Winterreise is a song cycle for voice and piano by Franz Schubert , a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller. It is the second of Schubert's two great song cycles on Müller's poems, the earlier being Die schöne Müllerin...
' and 'Schwanengesang
Schwanengesang
Schwanengesang is the title of a posthumous collection of songs by Franz Schubert.Unlike the earlier Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, it uses poems by three poets, Ludwig Rellstab , Heinrich Heine and Johann Gabriel Seidl . Schwanengesang has the number D 957 in the Deutsch catalogue...
'), oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
s (Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's Christmas Oratorio
Christmas Oratorio
The Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, is an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach intended for performance in church during the Christmas season. It was written for the Christmas season of 1734 incorporating music from earlier compositions, including three secular cantatas written during 1733 and 1734 and a...
, Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
, etc.) and appeared in numerous televised opera productions now available on DVD. These include signature roles such as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier and Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus, both conducted by frequent collaborator Carlos Kleiber
Carlos Kleiber
Carlos Kleiber was a German-born, Austrian classical conductor who spent most of his early life in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Vienna and New York City, and from the early 1960s his professional career in Germany.- Early career :...
(whose birthday, in a different year, she shared). Fassbaender has also taught master classes.
The multi talented Brigitte Fassbaender recently added another facet to her accomplishments. In 2010 she wrote the book and texts for a successful musical - "Lulu - das Musical". "Shylock!", a musical based on Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and the second collaboration with the composer Stephan Kanyar will premiere in Innsbruck in 2012.
In recent years, Fassbaender has held directorial positions. She was the Opera director at the Staatstheater Braunschweig
Staatstheater Braunschweig
Staatstheater Braunschweig is a theatre and opera house in Braunschweig, Germany. Joachim Klement has been the intendant there since 2010.The Staatstheater comprises music theatre, ballet and theatre....
for two years from 1995 to 1997. In 1999, she became Intendantin (Managing Director) of the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck. In January 2011, the French Government appointed her an honorary Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur .