A German bass. Born in Mayen, he graduated from the Cologne University of Music. In 1989, while still a student, he became a soloist with the opera company of the Aalto Theatre in Essen and worked there until 1995. As a guest soloist, he has performed at the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, La Scala, the Opéra Bastille, the Bavarian State Opera, and other prestigious European theaters. In 1998, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut (in the role of Sarastro in The Magic Flute).
The core of the singer's repertoire consists of roles in Wagner's operas, such as King Marke (Tristan und Isolde) and Gurnemanz (Parsifal). In 2012, he debuted at the Bayreuth Festival in the role of Daland (The Flying Dutchman), and in 2013 performed the role of Hunding (Die Walküre) there. His roles also include Sarastro (The Magic Flute), Osmin (The Abduction from the Seraglio), Rocco (Fidelio), Fiesco (Simon Boccanegra), the Father Superior (La forza del destino), and Arkel (Pelléas et Mélisande).
The core of the singer's repertoire consists of roles in Wagner's operas, such as King Marke (Tristan und Isolde) and Gurnemanz (Parsifal). In 2012, he debuted at the Bayreuth Festival in the role of Daland (The Flying Dutchman), and in 2013 performed the role of Hunding (Die Walküre) there. His roles also include Sarastro (The Magic Flute), Osmin (The Abduction from the Seraglio), Rocco (Fidelio), Fiesco (Simon Boccanegra), the Father Superior (La forza del destino), and Arkel (Pelléas et Mélisande).
