POLSKI

Thomas Quasthoff - Versatile Artist

Thomas Quasthoff was born on November 9, 1959, in Hildesheim near Hanover. He came into the world with a defect, inadvertently caused by his mother, who during pregnancy took a popular medication in Germany at the time called Contergan Forte (later renamed
Thalidomide). The frequently advertised drug was supposed to alleviate morning sickness and also enable a peaceful sleep. Unfortunately, this medication contributed to the disability of many children born during that period, manifesting mainly as underdevelopment of both upper and lower limbs.

As a child, he began singing very early. He sang at all times of the day, even to excess. He even began to irritate his mother with it. Fortunately, his father, who had wanted to be a singer in his youth, had greater patience with him. Finding the right teacher took some time. The search led his parents to the town of Arnum near Hanover, and the person they found was Charlotte Lehmann, with whom young Thomas began studying at the age of just 14. The following years were marked by hard work and the development of his talent. Winning the first prize by Thomas Quasthoff in 1988 at the prestigious ARD competition was a significant event in the international music community. Thanks to this, the artist permanently established himself among the stars of German vocal music. Immediately after the competition, he received a flood of concert offers. Only thanks to the prudence of his professor did he avoid premature “burnout” vocally. For she directly advised and decided in the first years of his concert career which repertoire he could sing and which was too early for him.

Every singer, like every artist, acts through a certain prism of their teachers and role models. Not only the singing pedagogue influences the shaping of the young vocal student. Artists often draw from other musical genres as well. Quasthoff also thought this way, as he admired and took inspiration from artists such as: The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Al Green. Significant influence on the development of his vocal aesthetics also came from classical repertoire singers, including: Hermann Prey, Fritz Wunderlich, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hans Hotter, Peter Schreier. Thomas Quasthoff is a singer with impeccable vocal technique. Numerous music critics, stage partners, and finally listeners cannot cease to marvel at the multitude of colors he can display with his voice. His range, which he showcases in the pieces he performs, is also impressive. He possesses a resonant D at the bottom, and a certain mixing of the head and chest registers allows him to sing high notes with incredible lightness and precision. The final character of each performance is marked by the artist's general interests. I learned – Quasthoff writes in his biography – that a musician must do their homework. They should read specialized literature, compare performances, and study the history and context of the work's creation, but when they step on stage, they should present their own interpretation. This and many other interesting statements and experiences of the artist can be found in his biography 'The Voice'.



An extremely sad piece of news for music lovers was the announcement of Thomas Quasthoff's retirement from singing due to health problems at the beginning of 2012. This information is only known to a wide audience. However, it seems that one could reasonably look for the reason for taking this particular step due to the improper use of his voice by the artist. Despite this fact, the entire artistic and phonographic output of the singer seems to be impressive, even timeless.

The versatility of Quasthoff's singing is appreciated by critics and music lovers all over the world, and there is no exaggeration in numerous flattering reviews and opinions. The artist's interpretations, especially in vocal lyricism, carry the imprint of the suffering he experienced in childhood. It may be partly in this that one can find such great emotionality in the singer's performance. His voice has evolved over time, which is why it has also become natural for him to gradually embrace new musical genres, including from the operatic literature and jazz music. The result of this are unforgettable stage creations, as well as numerous album recordings. There is something extraordinary in music – the moment of its creation is elusive. Outstanding artist musicians, like Quasthoff and other remarkable personalities, give this significant testimony. Thanks to them, people forget about the worries of everyday life and transport themselves, even if only for a moment, to the realm of art. Due to the wide and rich activities of Thomas Quasthoff, it is impossible to present the fullness of his achievements, but it is worth noting that he is currently active as a mentor to young vocal art students, and he also continues to support the singing competition das Lied, which he established a few years ago. The artist's activities, although somewhat changed in profile, undoubtedly influence and will continue to positively influence the development of the artistic discipline.


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