- Brigitte Fassbaender
Brigitte Fassbaender (IPA2|bʁiˈgɪtə ˈfasbɛndɐ; born
3 July ,1939 inBerlin ), ismezzo-soprano opera singer, and in recent years, anartistic director . She has received theBavarian State Opera 's honorific title of 'Kammersänger ' or 'Court Singer.'Biography
Fassbaender is the daughter of screen actress
Sabine Peters and the celebrated Germanbaritone ,Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender . The family settled inNuremberg after World War II. She spent her early career in Munich. Fassbaender spoke about her relationships with both sexes in an interview with the BBC in August 2008, including her 27 year relationship with her female partner. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/lebrechtinterview/pip/ip5bs/ BBC Radio 3, "The Lebrecht Interview"] , 4 August 2008] ] She has a large lesbian following. [ [http://www.glbtq.com/arts/divas,2.html glbtq >> arts >> Divas ] ] [ [http://www.ebar.com/arts/art_article.php?sec=music&article=340 Not just another summer season | The Bay Area Reporter Online ] ]Career
Brigitte Fassbaender studied singing with her father, Willi Domgraf-Fassbaender, at the
Nuremberg Conservatory . She joined Munich'sBavarian State Opera in 1961, where her first leading role wasNicklausse in "The Tales of Hoffmann". Fassbaender sangOctavian ("Der Rosenkavalier ") inMunich , in 1967, the role that launched her international career. In 1971, she sang atCovent Garden and made herMetropolitan 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 (includingSchubert '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" andOrlofsky in "Die Fledermaus", both conducted by frequent collaboratorCarlos Kleiber (whose birthday, but not year, she shares). Fassbaender has also taught master classes.In recent years, Fassbaender has held director positions. She accepted the
Opera Director ship atStaatstheater Braunschweig (Brunswick state theatre, Lower Saxony, Germany) where her creative vision was well-received for two years. In 1999, she becameIntendantin (Artistic Director ) [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/cardiffsinger/sites/content/pages/brigitte_fassbaender.shtml BBC Cardiff Singer of the World | BBC Wales Online ] ] ofTiroler Landestheater (Tyrol state theatre,Innsbruck, Austria ), producing operatic, stage and orchestral productions each year.References
External links
* [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Fassbaender-Brigitte.htm Short biography]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.