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The German bas, Günter Klein, sang from his early childhood in various choirs of his hometown Bremerhaven, beginning as a high soprano, since age 13 with an extremely deep bass voice. Especially in low key ancient and church music this asset was very valuable. His early fascination by the Opera received full satisfaction with first experience on stage as a member of the Extra-Choir of the Theater Bremerhaven (Wagner, Meistersinger, 1967). Since the very awaking of his bass voice Sarastro’s Arias (in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte) has been his “personal label” on various presentations. After finishing College (1968) he pursued Studies in Biology (Bochum University) and private singing lessons (E. Klammer, Bremerhaven).
Besides his early professional engagement as Diplom-Biologist and Dr. Eng. across several fields of the upcoming scientific-political area of Environmental Protection as well as Marine Research, he studied Singing and Piano at the Music Academy (Hochschule für Musik, Dortmund /Detmold). There he finished studies with the “Künstlerische Reifeprüfung” in 1978-1979. Meanwhile he established professional networks with many performances, within the Academy Program as well as in several churches.
In 1979 Günter Klein relocated to Berlin, where he has been responsible until 1995 for high quality and safe water supply for Germany and Europe (Director and Professor at the former Federal Health Agency). Beginning in 1979 the further voice training (George Fortune, Berlin, Edith Mathis, Salzburg, Karajan-Stiftung) stabilized his presence as concert and oratorio singer. Engagements on stages and in churches in Berlin as well as in many other German and European cities covered the wide range of concert programs (almost all J.S. Bach Cantatas and Oratorios, especially several hundred performances of his Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) or Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), George Frideric Handel, Haydn, Schubert up to Johannes Brahms and Verdi), including several Opera-performances (mainly concertant, Serva Padrona, Cantatrice Villane, Maestro di Capalla, Castor e Pollux u.a) ensured his visibility as a well-known performer.
From the mid-80s, Europe-wide experience, at various festivals and cooperation with several European Baroque Ensembles (Musicalische Compagney Berlin, Fiori Musicali, Bremen, Dialogo Musicale Utrecht, at Sofia Festival, Berliner Bachtage, Holland Festival für Alte Musik in Utrecht) also resulted in various CD, TV- and Radiorecordings (WDR Köln, SFB Berlin, Radio Bremen).
His special repertoire, besides all relevant Oratoria from early Baroque beyond classical and romatic style, encompassed selected compositions from English, Italian and German Early-Baroque Composers for the deep bass voice (e.g. Purcell, Heinrich Schütz, Landi, Freislich).
Even during his further professional commitment since 1995 as Director Environment and Health at the WHO and Senior academic Advisor to UN-University, his deep Voice was continuously present, among others for discovery of unknown works for extreme bass voice. Up to this advanced age, his contributions to major oratorio performances earned wide respect (Christus in J.S. Bach’s Passions, H-Moll-Messe (BWV 232), G.F. Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Schöpfung, Verdi's Requiem). Christus in J.S. Bach's Matthäus Passion (BWV 244) was his farewell to the Concert podium at Bonn, April 2014. From time to time he still has been asked to enrich scientific conferences or other events with treasures from the Bass-Repertoire – again and again since 50 Years spreading the wisdom from Sarastro’s arias.
Recordings:
G.F. Handel: Samson (Harapha), Dinslaken 1978
CD Schütz-Gabrieli, Musicalische Compagney Berlin,1985
Heinrich Schütz: Weihnachthistorie, Musicalische Compagney Berlin, 1986
J. Brahms: Marienlieder, Motetten, Europ.Vocal Soloists, 1988
J. Brahms: Liebesliederwalzer, Europ.Vocal Soloists, 1988
40 Jahre Bach Chor, Berlin Bach Motetten 2001
J.S. Bach: Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248/1-6, Groningen, Rein de Vries, 1985 (YouTube)
Christ lag in Todesbanden, ARD TV-Gottesdienst Seesen Ostern 1990
J.S. Bach: Kantanten in Berlin, Ed. Elvers & Karl Hochreiter, Berlin, 1991
Rewards:
1968 Landessieger Biologie, "Jugend forscht"
1968 Heinrich-Hörlein-Preis, Verband Deutscher Biologen
1982 Herbert-v.-Karajan Gesangsstudio, Salzburg |
