German baritone & teacher Wolfgang Brendel
is widely viewed as one of the greatest baritones of his generation — starting with his debut at the Bavarian State Opera at the behest of the legendary conductor Carlos Kleiber. Brendel sang the greatest roles of opera — from Mozart’s Count Almaviva to Wagner’s Hans Sachs — on the international stages of the world to consistent acclaim, not only for his matinee-idol flair but for the penetrating artistry that enabled him to make these complex roles his own.
For most of his performing career, his artistic home was the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, where he was closely associated with Kleiber and Wolfgang Sawallisch, and where he became the youngest Kammersänger in the history of the company in 1977. But he was also a regular guest at the Metropolitan Opera (where he made his debut at the age of 27), the San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and La Scala.
"A tremendous asset."
"Wolfgang Brendel is one of the outstanding artists of his generation, that rare singer who understands both vocal technique and artistry, and knows how to combine them to brilliant effect. Equally rarely, he’s also a gifted teacher who is able to communicate his knowledge to others. It’s hard for me to recommend Wolfgang highly enough: as a singer, a vocal pedagogue, and a font of operatic lore and knowledge, he is a tremendous asset to anyone in the field of opera who is fortunate enough to work with him."
ANNE MIDGETTE
Former chief classical music critic, The Washington Post
Teaching Philosophy
RECENT RESIDENCIES
Wolfgang Brendel regularly joins elite training programs around the world as a guest teacher.
Santa Fe Opera
The Glimmerglass Festival
Mozarteum (Salzburg)
The Neue Stimmen Competition
's-Hertogenbosch Competition (Netherlands)
Boston University
I want every student to find his or her most beautiful and well-produced singing voice. Different students have different amounts of the gift of a natural instrument, but my goal is to help each of them find the maximum potential of the voice they have. Even when the gift is modest, I believe that every singer can be guided to a better understanding of how to produce a beautiful sound. I believe that many students do not know how far they can go when they begin their studies, and it is my job to open their eyes, their ears, and their minds as well as their voices. This is true whether their goal is the opera stage, to conduct, or to teach in a high school.
Teaching + Career Media
Watch Professor Brendel work with students at The Wagner Academy and at The Jacobs School of Music, and view media highlights from his international career of 4 decades.
Professional Inquiries
Professor Brendel is currently based in Bloomington, Indiana and is managed internationally by Elene Tschaidse. To schedule a lesson, fill out the form below. For booking inquiries or to request press kit materials, contact his management.
