Andreas Scholl

Andreas Scholl (born 10 November 1967) is a German countertenor, a male classical singer in the alto vocal range, specialising in Baroque music.

Born into a family of singers, Scholl was enrolled at the age of seven into the boys choir. Aged 13, he was chosen from 20,000 choristers gathered in Rome from around the world to sing solo at a Mass held on 4 January 1981. Just four years later, Scholl was offered a place at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, an institution that normally accepts only post-graduate students, based on the strength and quality of his voice. He has since become an instructor at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, succeeding his own teacher, Richard Levitt.

Scholl's early operatic roles include his standing in for René Jacobs in 1993 at the Théâtre Grévin in Paris, where he caused a sensation. His major roles, such as his debut at Glyndebourne in 1998 as Bertarido in Handel's Rodelinda, a role he reprised at the Metropolitan Opera in 2006, were written for the 18th-century alto castrato Senesino.

Charming Beauty Bright

Once I courted a fair beauty bright,
And on her I placed my whole heart's delight;
I courted her for love, and her love I did obtain
Do you think I've any reason of love to complain?
But when her old father came this for to know
That me and his daughter together would go,
They locked her up and kept her so severe
That I never got sight but once more of Molly, my dear
And then I was forced to her father's to go
To see whether my true love had forgot me, yes or no,
She made me this reply with the tears all in her eyes
I never will forget you until the day I die
Although they keep me so tightly confined
But that is no reason I shall alter my mind,
I might have had a man and a man of high degree
But I always will prove kind to the man that loves me
Then I was forced to the army to go
To see whether I could forget my love or no;
But when I got in sight with my armor shining bright
It made me think of Molly, my heart's delight
Then seven long years I served one old king
At the end of seven years I returned home again
With my heart so full of grief and my eyes so full of tears
Oh how happy I'd a-been to got sight of my dear
O then I was forced to her father's to go
To see whether my true love had remained, yes or no
The old woman saw me come, she wrung her hands and cried
Said,' Sir, my daughter loved you, and for your sake she died'
O then I was struck like a man that was slain
The tears from my eyes fell like showers of rain,
My grief, my grief, it is more than I can bear

Andreas Scholl

Andreas Scholl

ALBUMS

Wanderer

Bach Cantatas

O Solitude

Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne

Crystal Tears

Kantate: German Baroque Cantatas

Andreas Scholl Goes Pop

The Best of Andreas Scholl

Arias for Senesino (Accademia Bizantina feat. conductor, harpsichord: Ottavio Dantone, countertenor: Andreas Scholl)

Arcadia (Accademia Bizantina feat. conductor, harpsichord: Ottavio Dantone, countertenor: Andreas Scholl)

The Art Of Andreas Scholl

A Musicall Banquet

Johannes-Passion - St John Passion - Passion selon Saint Jean

Wayfaring Stranger

Andreas Scholl: Vivaldi

Andreas Scholl: The Voice

Heroes

Matthäus-Passion

Stabat Mater

Cantates pour alto

English Folksongs & Lute Songs (Andreas Scholl feat. lute: Andreas Martin)

Vespro della beata Vergine

Deutsche Barocklieder

Stabat Mater

Related Sites

Charming Beauty Bright