Welcome back: Thomas Quasthoff is recording again
mainAfter an eight-year retirement, Tommy is back in studio.
That ought to put a smile on everyone’s face.
Press release just in from Sony:
New York / Berlin, January 17, 2018
When bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff announced his retirement from public performance as a Lieder singer in 2012, he left a hole in both the jazz and the classical worlds, which until today has not been filled. But the three-time Grammy Award-winning artist was sure that the time was right because he had no other choice. “It is no secret that extreme feelings make you speechless. After the death of my brother, my voice literally left me and I felt that I could no longer fulfill the expectations I had of myself and my artistry. That’s why I gave up my career as a classical singer. Luckily, my voice came slowly back to me, and today I stand here as a very happy person and I dedicate this new album to my brother Michael.”
Sony Classical is proud to be able to join Thomas Quasthoff on his return to the recording studio. The first album, due for release in May 2018, will be a diverse programme of jazz classics with the celebrated NDR Bigband – The Hamburg Radio Jazz Orchestra and his trio partners Frank Chastenier, Dieter Ilg and Wolfgang Haffner.
This is really great to read. I did want to share one little bit about Quastoff: many years ago, when he was starting out, he had to overcome certain obstacles because of his disability. One of the people who really “went to bat” for him was an American born Pop Singer in Germany by the name of BILL RAMSEY. Ramsey is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio but presently lives in Hamburg and in fact has been a German Citizen for over 25 years. When Quastoff came up against the requirement of Piano Playing–which he could not do–Ramsey raised all kinds of hell with the authorities at his school. Ramsey is extremely well known in Germany as a Jazz and Pop singer and has been for years. He saw the depth of Tom Quastoff’s talent and did not think that just because he could not play the piano that he should be denied a chance. Bill is now retired but his advocacy for Quastoff was a very fine thing that he did many years ago.
There is a reference to the problems Thomas had regarding a music school entry in a documentary made about him in the 1990s. He said in that film that a private tutor was hired.
It’s great to have Quasthoff back behind the microphone. I especially love this!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Roa-5BV46f0
Great news. I miss his Schubert and Brahms more than his jazz (although his “Watch What Happens” album is amazing IMHO), but I’m just glad he’s singing again: glad for his sake since it sounds like he is much happier now, and selfishly glad for my sake that he’s recording again, which means I’ll have a chance to actually hear him 🙂
I wonder if he’ll start performing in public again. It was a great thrill to sing in the chorus when he was our soloist here in Boston for the Bach B minor Mass, and he was the most gracious of collaborators.
Certainly puts a smile on my face. He’s one of the finest and most inspiring artists in recent history. I suspect that most people, like me, can remember the first time we saw him perform live. In my case it was more than 20 years ago, and I couldn’t believe what my ears and eyes were telling me, He sang Mozart will a delicacy and a stream of the most beautiful tone, such as I have only ever otherwise heard from Wunderlich and Fischer-Dieskau in recording; and the whole thing was done with such nobility, sensitivity and intelligence. He has never failed to live up to that standard again in more recordings and recitals than I can count
WELCOME BACK!!!!!
WE’VE MISSED YOU!!!!
I am so happy to hear this. I have admired his singing for a very long time.