Matthias Goerne: I have five years left
mainThe foremost German baritone has told Platea magazine that he intends to retire in 2024, when he will be 57.
That’s pretty early for a singer who devotes much of his career on the recital stage and less to the exertions of opera, but Goerne is one of those artists who has a cerebral and emotional life outside of music, and he intends to make the most of it.
Catch him while you can.
How often do famous singers keep their word at retiring asa planned?
Very valid question!
I heard him in War Requiem a couple of seasons ago and he did not sound good. Perhaps he wasn’t in good vocal health at the time, but it was surprising since I’ve always enjoyed his performances in the past.
Huh. I’m 58, and I’m just getting started.
This interview is to commemorate the 25th aniversary of the debut of Goerne at the Schubertiada Vilabertran, a leading lied festival in Spain. It was his first performance ever outsode Germany at that time. He comes back nearly every summer since then.
The Schubertiada presented the Spain debut of peolpe like Jonas Kaufmann, Lise Davidsen, Sarah Connolly, Mauro Peter, Katharina Konradi, Andre Schuen, Kate Royal, Christian Gerhaher, Quatuor Ebene, Mojca Erdmann, Anna Lucia Richter and Christiane Karg. They seem to have a good hand there…
It’s a pity to hear. Matthias Goerne is, and has been, one of the truly great voices, both in recital and in opera. He has a sound that is its own, and his ability to dramatize a text is in a special class. He can look back on a highly successful career.
He will be missed