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Thomas QuasthoffGerman singer, bass-baritone
Date of Birth: 09.11.1959
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Biography of Thomas Quasthoff
- Pursuit of Music
- Recognition and Awards
- Recording Career
- Teaching and Legacy
Biography of Thomas Quasthoff
Early Life and ChallengesThomas Quasthoff is a German singer and bass-baritone who gained fame for his performances of romantic German songs, or "lieder," as well as his talents as a baroque cantata performer and jazz improviser. He was born in Hildesheim, Germany. Unfortunately, his mother took thalidomide during her pregnancy to alleviate morning sickness, which had several negative effects on Thomas. He did not grow taller than 134 centimeters and had virtually no hands, with his fingers growing directly from his shoulders. Despite these challenges, Thomas's musical abilities were already impressive, but he was rejected from the Hanover Conservatory due to his disability.
Pursuit of Music
Undeterred, Thomas turned to singing and pursued vocal training under private tutor Sebastian Peschko. He also spent three years studying law. Thomas worked for a period in radio and provided voice-overs for television programs. In 1988, he began his professional music career after winning the international ARD Music Competition in Munich. His singing caught the attention of German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. In 1995, Thomas made his American debut at the Oregon Bach Festival, invited by artistic director Helmuth Rilling. In 1998, he performed as a soloist in Krzysztof Penderecki's "Credo," which won a Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. In 2003, Thomas made his opera debut as Don Fernando in Beethoven's "Fidelio" at the Salzburg Festival.
Recognition and Awards
In September 2004, Thomas made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony. He won his first Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Classical Vocal Solo, alongside mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, for their performance of Gustav Mahler's "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Claudio Abbado. Thomas received his second Grammy Award in 2004 in the same category for his rendition of a lieder by Franz Schubert, again performing with von Otter and conducted by Abbado. In 2006, he received his third Grammy Award in the same category.
Recording Career
Thomas's recordings of songs by Johannes Brahms, Franz Liszt, and Schubert, accompanied by pianist Justus Zeyen, were nominated for Grammy Awards in 2000 and 2001. He recorded for Deutsche Grammophon.
Teaching and Legacy
Despite his active performing career, Thomas considers himself primarily a vocal masterclass teacher. Currently, he works in Berlin, Germany.
