  g(11696700)a(1393595))
www.axelkoehler.com
Agency:
Sigrid Rostock
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10407 Berlin
Deutschland
Fon: +49 30 425 75 14
Fax: +49 30 423 91 36
sigridrostock@web.de
| | Köhler Axel | | contratenore |  
| Born in Schwarzenberg, began is musical studies at Carl Maria von Weber music school in Dresden where he concentrated on violin pedagogy and singing. Upon graduating he was engaged as bariton in Halle. Two years later, following the advice of Marianne Fischer-Kupfer in Berlin and Jessica Cash in London, he switched to altus. |
| Axel Köhler made his professional debut as an altus as Eustatio in Handel's Rinaldo at the Handel Festival in Halle under the baton of Christian Kluttig. In the time since, he has become known internationally as a Handel specialist, appearing in the titel roles of 'Sosarme', 'Giulio Cesare', 'Orlando', 'Tamerlano', 'Tolomeo'. |
| He made his American debut as Tamerlano in 1990 at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, with the Handel Festival Orchestra conducted by Stephen Simon. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with Richard Westenberg's Musica Sacra in Handel's 'Messiah'. |
| Other projects included 'Orpheo' by Telemann in Innsbruck and at the Berlin State Opera conducted by René Jacobs, the title role of 'Giustino' at Komische Oper Berlin, Orlovsky /'Fledermaus' at Hamburgische Staatsoper and at Komische Oper. He sings Ptolomeo/'Giulio Cesare' at the Munich State Opera. Axel Köhler made his debut at the Royal Opera House in London in September 1995 as Bacco/'Arianna' by Alexander Göhr in the world premiere. |
| In 1997 he sang concerts of 'Carmina burana' with the Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Kurt Masur in Leipzig, he performed the part of Attilio Regolo conducted by Frieder Bernius at Dresden Musikfestspiele, he sang the part of Arsamenes/'Serse' at the 1996 Handel festival in Halle and the part of Ottone/'L'Incoronazione di Poppea' at Prinzregententheater in Munich in July 1997 and 1998. In November 1997 he was Orpheo in Gluck's opera in a production in Halle. |
| Axel Köhler divides his time betwen opera engagements performed in the international arena, concerts and festivals in the major music capitals of Europe and recordings. He has collaborated frequently with conductors René Jacobs, Marcus Creed, Howard Arman, Ivor Bolton, Helmuth Rilling. |
| It was a great challenge for the young artist to perform the titel role of 'Farinelli', a part composed for him by Siegfried Matthus, in the world premiere in 1998 in Karlsruhe and at Semper Opera in Dresden. |
| The 1998/1999/2000 seasons included guestings at Komische Oper Berlin, Aalto Theatre Essen, a tour to Japan with Ottone/ 'L'Incoronazione di Poppea', Daniel/'Belsazar" at Dresden Semper Opera House, David/'Saul' in Karlsruhe and Berlin, Ottone/'Agrippina' in Halle. He sang Orlovsky/'Fledermaus' at Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome, his recital 'Falsetto grazioso" in Berlin, Halle, Essen, Duisburg (CD 'Die Kunst des Küssens' release in September 2000) and concerts ('Messiah' in Germany, 'St. John's Passion' in France). |
| In 1999 he was appointed 'Kammersänger' and received the renowned 'Critics' Award' of 'Berliner Zeitung'. |
| In February 2000 he presented his first work as a director with 'L'Incoronazione di Poppea' in Halle which got enthusiastic acclaim both by critics and audience. In 2001 he has directed 'Rodrigo' at the 50th Handel Music Festival in Halle and got brilliant reviews. |
| The Munich State Opera House engaged him for 'Rinaldo', 'Giulio Cesare' and 'Poppea'. Other engagements include the title role of 'Tamerlano' at Komische Oper Berlin and Orlovsky/'Fledermaus' in Karlsruhe. In February 2003 he will sing the part of Nutrice in a new 'Poppea' production at Hamburgische Staatsoper.@ |
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