Nikolaus Hillebrand

Nikolaus Hillebrand
Born	1948 (age 76–77) Głuchołazy, Poland
Education	Regensburger Domspatzen Musikhochschule Köln Musikhochschule München
Occupation	Operatic bass-baritone
Organizations	Bavarian State Opera

Nikolaus Hillebrand (born 1948) is a German operatic bass-baritone, who was engaged at the Bavarian State Opera, among others, and appeared at international festivals such as Bayreuth and Taormina. As a boy he was a member of the Regensburger Domspatzen, and returned to record sacred music with the group as a soloist.

Career

Hillebrand was born in Głuchołazy.[1] He was a member of the boys' choir Regensburger Domspatzen, the choir of the Regensburg Cathedral.[1] He studied voice at the Musikhochschule Köln with Rolf Dieter Knoll, and at the Musikhochschule München with Hanno Blaschke.[2] He was engaged at the Lübeck Opera from 1973 where he made his debut. From 1974 he was engaged at the Karlsruhe Opera,[1] and from 1976 for several seasons at the Bavarian State Opera.[3]

Hillebrand performed in 1973 the title role in Rossini's Mosè in Egitto in Israel. He appeared at the Salzburg Festival in Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and in concert.[3] He performed at the Bayreuth Festival first in 1974 as Hans Foltz in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.[3] In 1975 he performed additionally the parts of Fafner in Siegfried, a Knight in Parsifal, and the steersman in Tristan und Isolde.[2] Hillebrand appeared as the Doctor in Alban Berg's Wozzeck at the Paris Opera.[3] He appeared as Telramund in Wagner's Lohengrin at the Festival of Taormina in 1991.[2]

In concert, he performed for example the bass solo in parts I to III of Bach's Christmas Oratorio at the Bachwoche Ansbach of 1977, with the Regensburger Domspatzen, Heiner Hopfner as the Evangelist, conducted by Hanns-Martin Schneidt.[4]

Hillebrand has taught at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich.[3]

Recordings

Hillebrand recorded in 1977 Bach's Christmas Oratorio with the Regensburger Domspatzen conducted by Schneidt.[5] In 1979 he recorded the vox Christi (voice of Christ) in Bach's St John Passion with them,[6] in an early production in historically informed performance. A reviewer noted the "aura of calm resignation" that he lend to the part.[7] He recorded in 2009 the Requiem in C minor by Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf with Regensburger Domspatzen, conducted by Georg Ratzinger.[8]

References

1. "Nikolaus Hillebrand (Bass-Baritone)". Bach-Cantatas. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
2. "Nikolaus Hillebrand". Bayreuth Festival. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
3. Kutsch, Karl-J.; Riemens, Leo (2003). "Hillebrand, Nikolaus". Großes Sängerlexikon (in German) (4th ed.). Walter de Gruyter. p. 2079. ISBN 3-598-11598-9.
4. "Tönet, ihr Pauken! Erschallet, Trompeten!". Bach-Cantatas. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
5. "Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 / Recordings – Part 4". Bach-Cantatas. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
6. "Johannes-Passion BWV 245 / Recordings – Part 4". Bach-Cantatas. 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
7. Blyth, Alan (2007). Choral Music on Record. Cambridge University Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-521-03583-5. When it appeared in 1979, Hanns-Martin Schneidt's period instrument 'authentic' account (20) provided stiff competition for ... Similarly, Nikolaus Hillebrand gives the part of Jesus an aura of calm resignation ...
8. "Dittersdorf: Requiem in C minor, Litany in D major, etc / Ratzinger". arkivmusic.com. 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2016.

External links

• Nikolaus Hillebrand at AllMusic