The German mezzo-soprano, Irene Schneider, had her first musical activity in childhood and adolescence. In 1993, she began her singing studies at the Hochschule für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber" in Dresden with Kammersängerin Elisabeth Wilke. In 1997, she moved to the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler" Berlin, where she studied with Kammersängerin Professor Jutta Schlegel. In 2000, she passed the examination to become a qualified singer for music theater and concerts. Today she takes lessons with Kammersängerin Brigitte Eisenfeld. She also attended master-classes and courses: Dartington International Summer School of Music (UK) (1995); Studies in London with Susannah Self (1996); International Singing Seminar Burg Beeskow (1997); Telemann interpretation workshop in Strasbourg (1997); Workshop English Song with Professor St. Emerson and Scot Weir (1998); International Singing Seminar Burg Beeskow (1998); Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart (Director: Helmuth Rilling), master-class by Ingeborg Danz; Messiah Interpretation Workshop in Berlin with Professor A. Fried and Professor Scot Weir; Lied interpretation courses in Dreieich (Director: Ulrich Eisenlohr) (1998-& 2000) - here also important impulses from the actor Wolfgang Beuschel (Switzerland).
Irene Schneider's concert activity before and during her studies, was especially in the field of church music (e.g. for the performance of oratorios and cantatas by J.S. Bach, as well as other Baroque masters), including at Bachakademie Stuttgart (1998), Philharmonie Berlin (2000), Berliner Dom (2000), Nicolaikirche Potsdam (2000/2001). In 2002/2003 she performed George Frideric Handel's Messiah, J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion (BWV 245), Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248)... and participated in concerts with the Vogtlandphilharmonie Greiz/Reichenbach. She has keen interest in Lied composition, especially in the works of Gustav Mahler and gave Lieder recitals
Before appearing as a soloist, she was also a member of various choirs (e.g. the Dresdner Kammerchor (Director: Hans-Christoph Rademann), including involvement in CD recordings)
In the opera field, she participated in Singing Seminar Beeskow (opera evening and opera gala), 1998; Falscher Boy in Der Zar läßt sich fofographieren at Kurt-Weill-Fest-Dessau (1999); Zubaida in the premiere of K. Schwaen's opera Der arme Kalifah (1999);Virtue, Pallas Athene, Amorino III in Monteverdi's Die Krönung der Poppea at Opernhaus Halle, conducted by Wolfgang Katschner, directed by Axel Koehler (2000); Zita in G. Puccini's Gianni Schicchi at Hochschule der Künste Berlin (2000); Argenore in Wilhelmine v. Bayreuth's Argenore at Saalbau Neukölln Berlin (2001); Theseus in G.F. Handel's Ariadne at Kloster Neuzelle (2001). |