Christian Elsner

Tenor
© Ellen Schmauss
General Management

Christian Elsner, born in Freiburg im Breisgau, has been an internationally sought-after soloist for many years, and now also passionately enjoys passing on his experience to the next generation as a professor of singing. Full of gratitude, he often recalls his vocal studies with Prof. Martin Gründler.

In the Lied class of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau the tenor deepened his passion for the interpretation of the art song, which is still very close to his heart. He has given recitals with accompanists such as Hartmut Höll, Gerold Huber and Burkhard Kehring in Dresden, Munich, Cologne, Schwetzingen, Brussels, Paris and at the Schubertiade Feldkirch. Numerous CD recordings of lied, concert and opera bear witness to his varied repertoire. His new CD "Urgedanken" with songs by Mahler, Brahms, Wagner and Beethoven will be released in autumn 2021.

Among his numerous performances in all the major centers of classical music such as the Philharmonie Berlin, the Vienna Musikverein, Carnegie Hall New York, La Scala Milan or Suntory Hall Tokyo are Haydn's The Creation under Zubin Mehta, Dvořák's Stabat Mater under Mariss Jansons, Mahler's Song of the Earth under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Franz Schmidt's Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln under Manfred Honeck or Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Symphony as part of a world tour with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle are among his most personally valuable musical highlights.

Particularly formative has been the longstanding collaboration with Marek Janowski, under whose direction Christian Elsner has sung Parsifal, Loge and Mime, as well as the Witch in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel and Florestan in Beethoven's Fidelio. Richard Wagner's operas became the focus of his operatic career through performances as Siegmund and as Parsifal at the German National Theater in Weimar, the Staatstheater in Kassel, the Semperoper in Dresden, the Vienna State Opera and the Teatro Real in Madrid. Inspired by this, the artist most recently published a book for children, called Lennie and the Ring of the Nibelung.

Recently, Christian Elsner could be heard in a Missa Solemnis under Marek Janowski in Dresden, in a recital with Hartmut Höll in Karlsruhe, and as Siegmund in concert performances of Wagner's Walküre in Porto and Stavanger.

In the 2022/23 season, Christian Elsner will appear as Loge at the Dresden Philharmonic, return to the Vienna Musikverein with Franz Schmidt's Book with the seven Seals, and sing in Verdi's Requiem in Groningen. Beethoven's 9th Symphony in Lisbon and further concerts in Mainz and Kaiserslautern as well as appearances at the Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse as Siegmund and Loge are also on the program.




5. May 2023 - 20:00

Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse

Info & Tickets



25. May 2023 - 20:00

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonie Nr. 9 d-moll op. 125

Info & Tickets



26. May 2023 - 19:00

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonie Nr. 9 d-moll op. 125

Info & Tickets



  • „Der deutsche Tenor Christian Elsner ist der Erfahrenste, man hört seiner Stimme keinerlei Müdigkeit im Heldenfach an und er zeigt mit seinem lebhaften Vortrag, seiner klaren Diktion und seinem warm fokussierten Ton seine gute Ausbildung bei Lehrern wie Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.“
    Stavanger Aftenblad
    Stavanger Aftenblad: "Inzestuöses Dreiecksdrama", Eirik Loden, 21.5.22
  • "Ein großer Abend: Die Spitzentöne (...) haben stets Wärme und Schmelz, nie klingen sie stählern oder kühl. (..) Mit makellosem stimmlichen Ebenmaß und bruchlosen dynamischen Bögen widmete sich Elsner den Mahler-Liedern."
  • "Christian Elsner as her Florestan lives every line of ‘Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!’, and handles the impossible tessitura magnificently."
    BBC Classical Music Magazine
    BBC Classical Music Magazine, “Beethoven – Fidelio (Lise Davidsen)”, Michael Beek, 02.09.2021
  • Elsner’s warmly lyrical tenor was already on display in the first item, An die Musik. Given the current pandemic, the opening lines of “O blessed art, how often in dark hours... have you kindled warm love in my heart, have transported me to a better world!” took on additional poignancy. In Du bist die Ruh’ Elsner created a fine tapestry of dynamic shadings, rising to a height of ecstasy at “lit by your radiance alone”.
    Bachtrack
    Bachtrack, “Sadness and joy reflected in Schubert and Dvorak at the Elbphilharmonie”, Alexander Hall, 26.10.2020 (Orchestral version of Schubertsongs by Reger/Webern / hr-Sinfonieorchester / Andres Orozco-Estrada)
  • "...stile, comunicatività e intelligenza interpretativa gli hanno consentito di delineare un notevole Siegmund."
    Operaclick
    Operaclick, „Bari – Teatro Petruzzelli: Die Walküre“, Eraldo Martucci, 14.04.2019
  • "Den Tenorpart gestaltete Christian Elsner mit Leidenschaft, mit müheloser Kraft, die seine Wagner-Erfahrung verrät. Man nimmt ihm die wilde Ausgelassenheit, aber auch die Resignation im „Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde“ ab. Auch die Freude, die lebensvolle Stimmung im „Pavillon aus Porzellan“, die Ausgelassenheit des „Trinkers im Frühling“, der keinen Sinn mehr für die Schönheit der Natur hat, werden von ihm in überzeugender Weise umgesetzt. Die Bravorufe am Ende waren mehr als berechtigt. "
    Mainpost
    Mainpost: „Tiefer Einblick in Mahlers musikalische Welt", Klavierfassung „Lied von der Erde“ mit Gerold Huber, Klavier", Armin Rausche, 11.07.18
  • „Großartig dabei Christian Elsner, der die wenigen, aber umso heikleren tenoralen Töne des "Ewig-Weiblichen" punktgenau platzierte.“
    OÖ Nachrichten
    OÖ Nachrichten: „Große Musik – beinahe unter Ausschluss der Öffentlichkeit“, 08.10.2018
  • "Elsners in der Mittellage warm timbrierter, in der schlank geführten Höhe leicht ansprechender Tenor ist ungemein flexibel...seine nahezu perfekte Technik wird aber an diesem Abend nie zum Selbstzweck, sie steht im Dienste des Ausdrucks."
    BNN
    BNN, "Überbordende Begeisterung - Grandioser Liederabend mit Christian Elsner", Claus Walters, 18.06.18



Verena Vetter KSG

Verena Vetter

Director, General Management
e-mail
+49 89 44488792
Anne Bilodeau

Anne Bilodeau

e-mail
Associate Artist Manager
+49 89 44488797