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Dantes DiwiakGerman tenor
Country:
 Germany |
Content:
Biography of Danteš Divjak
Danteš Divjak is a German tenor opera and concert singer who was born in Slovenia and raised in Germany. He primarily works in Germany and is known for his performances of spiritual music, though he is not widely recognized outside of Germany. Divjak is married to German singer Christa Bonhoff, a contralto and mezzo-soprano.
Early Life and Education
Danteš Divjak began his music education in early childhood under the guidance of his father. At the age of twelve, he studied accordion and excelled in a competition in Saarland. After completing high school, Divjak continued his vocal studies with Professor Klaus Kirchner and received opera training from Professor Theo Altmeier, a renowned classical tenor who taught at the Musikhochschule Hannover.
Career
After passing exams and attending several masterclasses with renowned opera stars such as Hermann Reutter, Birgit Nilsson, Helmuth Rilling, and American tenor Scot Weir, Danteš Divjak became the winner of several prestigious singing competitions. He received invitations to perform from the Bremen and Oldenburg opera houses and joined the Staatsoper Hannover as a permanent member.
Divjak has performed the role of the Evangelist in Johann Sebastian Bach's "Passions," including in Russia, France, Syria, and Israel. He has collaborated with the Hannover choir "MarkusChor Hannover" and performed with the Hannover State Opera Orchestra in concerts and services.
In 1982, he performed Camille Saint-Saëns' "Oratorio de Noël" with the choir. In 1983, he participated in the performance of Gioachino Rossini's "Petite Messe solennelle" and Weber's "Missa sancta No. 1." In 1989, he sang Haydn's "The Creation" with the "Harburger Kantorei" at St. Johanniskirche in Harburg.
In 1996, Divjak took part in concerts of sacred music at Neustädter Kirche in Hannover, performing Igor Stravinsky's "Canticum sacrum." He also performed Mozart's "Cantata" and "Great Mass in C minor" in 1988, Bach's "Mass in B minor" in 1990, and reprised the role of the Evangelist in "St Matthew Passion" in 1991. The concert in Heidelberg in 1994, where the "Mass in B minor" was performed, was recorded.
In 2007, Divjak performed Haydn's "Mass in Time of War," Mozart's "Coronation Mass," and Mendelssohn's oratorio "Elijah" with the "MarkusChor Hannover." In 2009, he collaborated with the "Nordschleswigsche Musikvereinigung" and performed Haydn's "Mass for troubled times" and Bach's cantata "Erschallet, ihr Lieder, erklinget, ihr Saiten! BWV 172." In 2002, Divjak, along with Monika Frimmer, Christa Bonhoff, and Peter Kooy, formed the "Tanto Canto" quartet, specializing in rare a cappella or accompanied by piano or orchestra musical works.
In 2005, the quartet recorded excerpts from the collections of Valentin Rathgeber and Johann Caspar Seyfert, both composers from the 18th century. In 2010, Danteš Divjak performed Max Bruch's oratorio "Die Glocke" at the University of Hamburg. In November 2010, he sang the tenor part in Verdi's "Messa da Requiem" at St. Martin's Church in Idstein.
