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The Austrian tenor, Norbert Ernst, studied "Instrumental und Gesangspädagogik" and "Konzertfach Gesang" with Gerd Fussi at the J. M. Hauer-Conservatory of the City of Wiener Neustadt, as well as Hymn and Oratorio with Charles Spencer and Robert Holl at the University for Music Vienna. He also completed master-classes with Kurt Equiluz and Walter Berry.
A well established concert performer, Norbert Ernst has appeared with major orchestras. Solo-appearances as singer of hymns and oratorios have led him all over Austria (e.g. Brucknerhaus Linz, Wiener Konzerthaus, Carinthischer Sommer, Konzerthaus Klagenfurt, Kammermusikfestival Allegro Vivo), Hungary, Italy and Switzerland. His varied repertory includes all of the great Oratorio-Literature, from George Frideric Handel's Messias, J. Haydn's Die Schöpfung, W.A. Mozart's Requiem, J.S. Bach's Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248), up to Puccini's Missa di Gloria, Gustav Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde. He is a sought after interpreter of the Evangelist in Bach`s Passions and built up a very good reputation as interpreter of Bach in numerous performances of his cantate-oeuvre.
From 2002 to 2006, Norbert Ernst has been member of the ensemble of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein - Düsseldorf, where he performed numerous roles including Hylas in Les Troyens, Andreas, Cochenille, Franz and Pitichinacchio in Les contes d'Hoffmann and Jaquino in Fidelio. It was also in Düsseldorf where he made his successful debut as David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. With this role he also appeared with great success at the Opera Festival in Savonlinna - Finland, which was mentioned by the press accordingly. Guest performances led the young Austrian tenor to the Vienna Volksoper, to the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Staatstheater Karlsruhe, as well as to the Nationaltheater Mannheim and as Telemaco in Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria to the Festival in Montreux - Vevey. Further International appearances include the roles of Telemaco in Il ritorno d`Ulisse in patria at the Opera Festival in Montreux, Nick in La Fanciulla del West at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Monastatos in Die Zauberflöte at the Staatsoper Berlin.
In autumn 2003, Norbert Ernst already gave his debut as Brighella at the Opera National de Paris. In summer 2004 his debut at the Bayreuther Festspiele as 3. Knappe in Parsifal took place, followed by further invitations for 2005 and 2006, again as 3. Knappe and Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer. In 2005 he also gave his successful debut as Monastatos in Die Zauberflöte at the Staatsoper Berlin. In 2005 also his debut at the Gran Teatro del Liceu Barcelona as Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer took place, followed by by a futher invitation as David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. At the Bayreuth Festival 2007 he made exeptional success with his interpretation of David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in the remarkable staging of Katharina Wagner, where his performance was unanimously praised by the press. He will continue to sing David in Die Meistersinger in Bayreuth until 2010. With the same part he had his debut at the Vienna State Opera with Maestro Christan Thilemann.
Upcoming engagements includeseveral international debuts, a.o. at the Grand-Théâtre de Genéveas Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, at the Liceu in Barcelona as Steuermann in Der fliegende Holländer and as David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, at De Nederlandse Opera as Hirt and Junge Seemann in Tristan und Isolde and at Deutsche Oper am Rhein as Pedrillio in Die Entführung aus dem Serail . In 2010 he will also perform the role of David underthe baton of Maestro James Levine at the opera of Cincinnati. |
