Singer |
Thomas Hampson |
Baritone |
Long recognised as one of the most innovative musicians of our time, American baritone Thomas Hampson has received countless international honours for his singular artistry and cultural leadership. His operatic repertoire comprises more than 80 roles, and his discography includes over 170 albums. He is a multiple GRAMMY Award, Edison Award, and the Grand Prix du Disque nominee and winner.
In the 2024/25 season, Thomas Hampson will both stage direct and take on the role of ‘Don Alfonso’ in concert performances of Mozart's ‘Così fan tutte’ with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. This is followed by a residency with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for performances of Mahler’s ‘Des Knaben Wunderhorn’, which Hampson also performs with Taiwan Philharmonic and Jun Märkl. At The Kennedy Center, he stars in Barber's ‘Vanessa’ with the National Symphony Orchestra Washington and joins a special concert celebrating American works with Renée Fleming and Denyce Graves.
Hampson's concert schedule features collaborations with esteemed orchestras, including the Baden-Baden Philharmonic for their New Year’s concert alongside Daniel Hope, MDR-Sinfonieorchester and Dennis Russell Davis, Turku Philharmonic with John Storgårds, and Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi with Emmanuel Tjeknavorian. In recital, Hampson is joined by accordionist Ksenija Sidorova for a tour of Schubert’s ‘Winterreise’ arranged for Baritone and accordion at venues such as Schloss Elmau, Tonhalle Zürich, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and Beethoven-Haus Bonn. He will also appear in recital at Palais Montcalm in Quebec and with longtime collaborator pianist Wolfram Rieger at Brucknerhaus Linz.
A notable operatic engagement of the season includes a starring role as Bishop Edward Vergerus in a new opera based on Ingmar Bergman's ‘Fanny and Alexander’ at La Monnaie. This new production features music by Mikael Karlsson and a libretto by Royce Vavrek.
Last season, Hampson sang Walton's ‘Belshazzar's Feast’ with BBC Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms and with The Cleveland Orchestra under the baton of Klaus Mäkelä. Mahler's works featured prominently throughout the season with Hampson performing songs from ‘Des Knaben Wunderhorn’ with the Athens State Orchestra and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He also joined the New York Philharmonic with Jaap van Zweden for their Asia tour and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi on their European tour, performing Kurt Weill’s ‘Four Walt Whitman Songs’.
Thomas Hampson is an honorary professor of Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg and an honorary member of London’s Royal Academy of Music. In addition to several Honorary Doctorates, he is the Kammersänger of the Wiener Staatsoper and Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the Republic of France. In 2017, he received the Hugo Wolf Medal, together with Wolfram Rieger. Hampson is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Lied Academy Heidelberg. In 2003, he founded the Hampsong Foundation, through which he uses the art of song to promote intercultural dialogue and understanding. His international masterclass schedule is a continuing online resource of Medici.tv, the Manhattan School of Music, and The Hampsong Foundation livestream channel. Additionally, he serves as an Advisor for Opera for Peace.
SEASON 2024/2025
General Management – Concerts and Special Projects:
Susanne Büttner
+44 20 7395 09-31
susanne.buettner@kdschmid.co.ukGeneral Management – Concerts and Special Projects:
Ellen Arkwright
+44 20 7395 09-37
ellen.arkwright@kdschmid.co.ukGeneral Management – Concerts and Special Projects:
Ann SunHyung Kim
+1 917 306 9718
ann.kim@kdschmid.comHenriette von Schnakenburg
Artist Coordinator
+49 30 5213 702-22
henriette.vonschnakenburg@kdschmid.deYou need high-resolution images and biographies? Please use this short form. We will send you a download link soon.
Henriette von Schnakenburg
Artist Coordinator
+49 30 5213 702-22
henriette.vonschnakenburg@kdschmid.de„All the yearning morbidity, the shimmering ecstasy, the euphoric intoxication, the indulgent surges of emotion, the decadent "fin-de-siècle opulence" revealed in these melodies (quite delicate in their demands), Thomas Hampson evokes with the emphatic vocal culture of his beautiful, brightly warm, slender yet substantially refined baritone.“
„His was the passion and interpretation of a master singer who truly loves the genre and is able to communicate this love to the audience in a touching and moving performance.“
„In the title role, Thomas Hampson is stellar. The singing is outstanding.“