Christoph Genz German opera singer, tenor Date of Birth: 01.03.1971 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Christoph Genz
2. Early Life and Education
3. Early Career and Achievements
4. Recording and Collaborations

Biography of Christoph Genz

Christoph Genz is a German opera singer and tenor who gained fame in the late 1990s. He was born on March 1, 1971, in Erfurt, a historic city in central Germany and the capital of Thuringia. Genz comes from a musical family and is the older brother of renowned baritone Stephan Genz, with whom he often performs.

Early Life and Education

Genz began singing from a young age and was a member of the internationally renowned boys' choir, Thomanerchor, based in Leipzig. The choir is associated with St. Thomas Church and has a history spanning several centuries. Notably, the choir was led by Johann Sebastian Bach from 1723 to 1750. Genz also studied at King's College in Cambridge, England, where he was a member of the famous King's College Choir. He received vocal training from baritone Hans-Joachim Beyer at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig and the renowned soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

Early Career and Achievements

In 1996, Genz won first prize at the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, establishing himself as a promising young talent. The following year, he emerged as the winner of the Grimsby International Singers Competition in Britain. Genz joined the Theater Basel in Switzerland in 1997 and performed at prestigious venues such as La Scala in Milan and the Semperoper in Dresden. In 2000, he made his debut at the Hamburg State Opera and became a regular member of the opera company from 2001 to 2004.

Genz's early performances in Mozart's roles, including Tamino in "Die Zauberflöte" and Ferrando in "Così fan tutte," garnered critical acclaim and drew attention from industry professionals. He gave a highly praised solo concert at Wigmore Hall in London in July 2000 and received accolades for his performances at Alte Oper in Frankfurt and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Genz has worked with esteemed conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Philippe Herreweghe, Franz Brüggen, Simon Rattle, and Peter Schreier.

Recording and Collaborations

Genz has recorded Bach cantatas, including "St John Passion," under the baton of John Eliot Gardiner. He was subsequently invited to participate in the "Bach Cantata Pilgrimage Tour" with the Monteverdi Singers Choir and English Baroque Soloists. Under the direction of Helmuth Rilling, he performed Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 2. Genz has also recorded Bach's "St John Passion" under Ludwig Güttler, "St Matthew Passion," and "Mass in B minor" with the Belgian orchestra La Petite Bande conducted by Sigiswald Kuijken. In 2005, he performed Bach cantatas with La Petite Bande at the Rheingau Musik Festival in Eibingen Abbey.

Furthermore, Genz contributed to the recording of Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos" as Brighella, accompanied by the Sächsische Staatskapelle and conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli.