Jochen Kowalski
Encyclopedia
Jochen Kowalski is a famous German
alto
or mezzo
countertenor
, noted for his very rich timbre
. He began his studies as a dramatic tenor
, specializing in Wagner, but soon switched to countertenoring (using modal voice
instead of falsetto
) and specializing in baroque
and classical music. In addition to Germany, he has performed in Austria
, France
, Japan
, Netherlands
, the United Kingdom
, and the United States
.
Jochen Kowalski, is among the most sought after international artists of his speciality. He received his training as a tenor at the Hanns Eisler Music Conservatory in Berlin, in particular with the vocal pedagogue Marianne Fischer-Kupfer.
After completing his studies in 1983 Jochen Kowalski was engaged as soloist at the "Komische Oper" (Comic Opera) in Berlin, where he is still a member of the ensemble. In 1984 he sang the title role in Georg Frideric Handel’s Giustino, staged by Harry Kupfer. The artist drew international attention through his performance of Orpheus in Gluck’s Orpheus und Euredice in a new staging of the work in December 1987, and in the travelling production by the Comic Opera in August 1989 in London. Kupfer's Orpheus wears a leather jacket and carries an electric guitar in this innovative interpretation.
In 1984 Jochen Kowalski made his debut with the State Opera of Hamburg singing the role of Daniel in G.F. Handel’s oratorio Belshazzar in Harry Kupfer’s staged realization under the musical direction of Gerd Albrecht. Since then he has been under contract at the State Opera, where he has also distinguished himself in many solo concerts. In 1987 and 1988 Kowalski appeared at the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam and the Grand Opera in Paris. He made his debut in the State Opera in Vienna and at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London in 1991, both times as Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1994 in the same role. In 1995 he took part in the Salzburg Festival. He has also made a name for himself as a concert and oratorio singer in the major musical centres of Europe, the USA and Japan. He has worked with such conductors as Gary Bertini
, Neville Marriner
, Vittorio Negri, Zubin Mehta
and Nikolaus Harnoncourt
, among others.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
or mezzo
Mezzo
mezzo is the Italian word for "half", "middle" or "medium". It is pronounced in English, but in Italian.In music, mezzo is the beginning of various Italian musical terms...
countertenor
Countertenor
A countertenor is a male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of a contralto, mezzo-soprano, or a soprano, usually through use of falsetto, or far more rarely than normal, modal voice. A pre-pubescent male who has this ability is called a treble...
, noted for his very rich timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
. He began his studies as a dramatic tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
, specializing in Wagner, but soon switched to countertenoring (using modal voice
Modal voice
Modal voice is the vocal register used most frequently in speech and singing in most languages. It is also the term used in linguistics for the most common phonation of vowels...
instead of falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
) and specializing in baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and classical music. In addition to Germany, he has performed in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Jochen Kowalski, is among the most sought after international artists of his speciality. He received his training as a tenor at the Hanns Eisler Music Conservatory in Berlin, in particular with the vocal pedagogue Marianne Fischer-Kupfer.
After completing his studies in 1983 Jochen Kowalski was engaged as soloist at the "Komische Oper" (Comic Opera) in Berlin, where he is still a member of the ensemble. In 1984 he sang the title role in Georg Frideric Handel’s Giustino, staged by Harry Kupfer. The artist drew international attention through his performance of Orpheus in Gluck’s Orpheus und Euredice in a new staging of the work in December 1987, and in the travelling production by the Comic Opera in August 1989 in London. Kupfer's Orpheus wears a leather jacket and carries an electric guitar in this innovative interpretation.
In 1984 Jochen Kowalski made his debut with the State Opera of Hamburg singing the role of Daniel in G.F. Handel’s oratorio Belshazzar in Harry Kupfer’s staged realization under the musical direction of Gerd Albrecht. Since then he has been under contract at the State Opera, where he has also distinguished himself in many solo concerts. In 1987 and 1988 Kowalski appeared at the Netherlands Opera in Amsterdam and the Grand Opera in Paris. He made his debut in the State Opera in Vienna and at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London in 1991, both times as Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1994 in the same role. In 1995 he took part in the Salzburg Festival. He has also made a name for himself as a concert and oratorio singer in the major musical centres of Europe, the USA and Japan. He has worked with such conductors as Gary Bertini
Gary Bertini
Gary Bertini was an Israeli conductor.-Biography:Gary Bertini was born Shloyme Golergant in Bricheva, Bessarabia, then in Romania, now in Donduşeni District, Moldova. His father, K. A. Bertini , was a poet and translator of the Russian and Yiddish Gary Bertini (Hebrew: גארי ברתיני) (born 1 May...
, Neville Marriner
Neville Marriner
Sir Neville Marriner is an English conductor and violinist.-Biography:Marriner was born in Lincoln and studied at the Royal College of Music and the Paris Conservatoire. He played the violin in the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Martin String Quartet and London Symphony Orchestra, playing with the...
, Vittorio Negri, Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
and Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Nikolaus Harnoncourt is an Austrian conductor, particularly known for his historically informed performances of music from the Classical era and earlier. Starting out as a classical cellist, he founded his own period instrument ensemble in the 1950s, and became a pioneer of the Early Music movement...
, among others.