Wilhelm Schwinghammer, bass

Born in Bavaria in 1977, Wilhelm Schwinghammer was musically trained as a member of the world famous boy’s choir and own specialized high school of the Regensburger Domspatzen. He then studied with Harald Stamm at the University of Arts in Berlin and perfected his education in master classes with Kurt Moll, Marjana Lipovsek, and others. While still a student, he joined the Frieder Bernius Chamber Choir in Stuttgart (1999-2004), was a finalist at the German Bundeswettbewerb (2004) and gained crucial experience at Philippe Herreweghe’s Collegium Vocale in Gent. He performed in Haendel’s Saul under René Jacobs and became part of the Sette Voci Ensemble together with Peter Kooij.

In 2003 the young bass was engaged for the International Opera Studio with several productions at the Hamburg Opera, including performances of Handel’s „Giulio Cesare“ (Curio), „Zauberflöte“ (2.Geharnischter), „Traviata“ (Obigny), „Zar und Zimmermann“ (Lord Syndham), „Meistersinger“ (Nachtwächter) and Tchaikovsky’s „Eugen Onegin“ (Saretzki). In 2004 he took part in „Parsifal” in the famous Robert Wilson production and in John Neumeier’s „Jubiläumsballett” with excerpts of the „Messiah”, Mozart’s „Requiem” and Bach’s „Magnificat”.

In 2005, as a highlight of his young career he made his debut at the Salzburg Festival, singing Dr. Grenvil at the side of Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón in „La Traviata” staged by Willy Decker. This production was live recorded and broadcasted on Austrian and German TV and is available on DVD and CD.

Together with the new artistic and chief musical director Simone Young the season 2005/06 saw new roles for Schwinghammer in Hamburg, thus he performed in „Tristan und Isolde“ (Steuermann), „Tosca“ (Angelotti), Handel’s „Alcina“ (Melisso), Donizetti’s „La Fille du Regiment“ (Korporal) and in Peter Eötvös’ Chekhov opera „Tri Sestri“ (Kulygin).

At the beginning of the 2006/2007 season Wilhelm Schwinghammer joined the permanent ensemble of the Hamburg Opera with a number of new roles, including Masetto/Don Giovanni, Colline/La Bohème, Lodovico/Othello as well as Theseus in Britten’s „A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. At the occasion of the jubilee season opening at Theater Kiel Wilhelm Schwinghammer sang the role of Rocco next to A. Dugger and S. MacAllister, followed by a new production of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio under the baton of A. de Marchi. During the season of 2008/09 his repertory in Hamburg included i.a. Colline/La Bohème, Speaker/The Magic Flute, Eremit/Freischütz, Don Basilio/Barbiere and Sparafucile/ Rigoletto at Hamburgische Staatsoper. Also, he made his role debut as Kaspar/Freischütz and sang at Schubertiade Schwarzenberg. In the 2009/10 season his main roles in Hamburg were: Il re(Aida), Leporello, Sarastro, Figaro, Eremit and others.

In 2011 Wilhelm Schwinghammer will return to Salzburg Easter Festival for Simon Rattle’s/Stefan Herheim’s Salome – concert performances of the same piece are also planned in Berlin Philharmony. In 2012 he will be Biterolf/Tannhäuser under Marek Janowski in Berlin (incl. CD). Further plans include a concert gala in Saarbrücken and performances of Mozart’s Requiem in Italy under the baton of Ph. Herreweghe, Verdi’s Requiem in Essen and Beethoven’s 9th symphony with Münchner Symphoniker in Munich and Nuremberg.

He has sung and will continue to sing with conductors such as N. Luisotti (Boheme-Colline, Angelotti), P. Schneider (Mozart-Requiem), S. Soltesz (Tosca, Evgenij Onegin), M. Honeck, G. Albrecht (7 Worte des Erlösers/Prag), Sir N. Marriner (Mozart Mass in C minor), H.Rilling (Coronation Mass, Bach-Magnificat), M. Minkowski (Bach: Johannes-Passion), H. C. Rademann (Israel in Egypt) and many others.

At ARD Musikwettbewerb 2009 in Munich Wilhelm Schwinghammer was awarded the 2^nd prize and the audience award. 

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