Bernd Weikl
This Austrian singer, whose career trajectory has taken him from lyric to dramatic baritone, has established himself as a strong and reliable artist. At his first appearance in Bayreuth as Wolfram, Weikl revealed a linear, compact instrument with a quick vibrato. While by no means a bass baritone, his lower voice has gained in amplitude over the years, allowing him to fill out the deeper reaches of such roles as Wagner's Dutchman and Hans Sachs, and Strauss' Barak and Mandryka. Indeed, his handsome, burly appearance is now matched by the sound and texture of his expanded voice. By no means a penetrating actor, Weikl still brings earnest intent and solid craft to his stage performances. In addition to the heavier German repertory, Weikl has shown consistent interest in Italian roles, at one point recording an accomplished Rigoletto.
Following studies at Mainz and Hanover, Weikl made his stage debut at the latter city in 1968, singing Ottokar in Weber's Der Freischütz. He joined the company at Düsseldorf in 1970, remaining with that theater for three years. During that period, he was engaged by Karajan for Melot at the 1971 Salzburg Festival and, the year after, made his debut at the Bayreuth Festival as Wolfram. His first-season success led to further engagements as the Herald, Amfortas, and later, Hans Sachs.
For his London debut, Rossini's Figaro was the role -- an interpretation noted as boisterous, but somewhat Germanic. Weikl's Metropolitan Opera debut on December 2, 1977, found him singing Wolfram once more, enjoying another success with the part. Subsequently, he has returned to the Metropolitan as Orest, Jochanaan, Amfortas, Mandryka, and Hans Sachs.
Other theaters throughout Europe were likewise as quick to engage Weikl; he became a celebrated singer in his native Vienna as well as in Munich, Berlin, and Hamburg. Industrious in adding new parts, the singer can now boast more than 100 characters in his inventory. Beyond the Continent, he is best-known for his Wagner and Strauss roles, but in Austria and Germany he has just as often sung the Italian, Russian, and French repertories; these include such figures as Verdi's Posa, Count di Luna, Ford and Simon Boccanegra, Mozart's Don Giovanni (recorded with Solti), Count Almaviva, Guglielmo, Tchaikovsky's Yevgeny Onegin (also recorded with Solti), Tomsky, Morone in Pfitzner's Palestrina, and Goloud. Although his primary focus has remained on opera, Weikl is also a positive presence on the concert stage, both as a soloist in choral works and as a recitalist. These activities have largely been centered in Europe.
Of Weikl's many recordings, several deserve special attention. His Hans Sachs, recorded with Cheryl Studer, Ben Heppner, and Kurt Moll under the mature and understanding direction of Wolfgang Sawallisch is worth searching out. His Dutchman with Sinopoli has much of the requisite torment and is firmly sung. His Eugene Onegin, recorded with a good cast and lovingly led by Solti is worth pursuing, as is his Cardinal Morone in Kubelik's recording of Palestrina, captured in excellent sound.
© TiVo
Discography
12 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Der Alchymist
Opera - Released by Oehms Classics on Apr 5, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Orff: Carmina Burana
June Anderson, Philip Creech, Bernd Weikl, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), James Levine
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg
Norman Bailey, Bernd Weikl, René Kollo, Hannelore Bode, Wiener Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Bernd Weikl, Cheryl Studer, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Opera - Released by Warner Classics on Jan 1, 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pfitzner: Palestrina
Nicolai Gedda, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Bernd Weikl, Karl Ridderbusch, Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rafael Kubelik
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Jan 1, 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin (2 CDs)
Teresa Kubiak, Bernd Weikl, Stuart Burrows, Royal Opera House Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on Jan 1, 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Romantic Songs for Baritone & Organ
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by CapriccioNR on Jan 1, 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolf-Ferrari: Il segreto di Sussana (Opera Gala – Volume 19)
Maria Chiara, Bernd Weikl, Lamberto Gardelli
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on Nov 13, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Weikl, Bernd: Operettenrecital
Classical - Released by Orfeo on Jan 1, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zumsteeg: Die Entführung & Des Pfarrers Tochter von Taubenhain
Bernd Weikl, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Classical - Released by Orfeo on Jan 1, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hagadah Shel Pessach Oratorium
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by CapriccioNR on Jan 1, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo