Biography
Gabriele Schnaut, a native of Mannheim, Germany, is one of today’s most renowned dramatic sopranos and has received great critical acclaim in particular for her outstanding interpretations of Strauss, Wagner, and Puccini operas.
Ms. Schnaut graduated from the Frankfurter Musikhochschule with distinction, and continued her studies in Berlin. In 1976 she received her first singing contract as a lyric mezzo-soprano at the STAATSOPER STUTTGART. Further engagements followed at the STAATSTHEATER DARMSTADT (1978-1980), NATIONAL THEATER MANNHEIM (1980-1986) and at the DEUTSCHE OPER AM RHEIN DÜSSELDORF (1986-1990). From 1985-1990, Ms. Schnaut made a successful switch to the dramatic soprano repertoire, and since 1991 has been a regular guest and in great demand at leading opera houses all over the world. Since 1990, Ms. Schnaut’s operatic engagements have included appearances at the following prestigious opera houses and festivals:
BAYREUTH FESTIVAL (1976-2000): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde, 2nd and 3rd Norn, Sieglinde), Lohengrin (Ortrud), Tannhäuser (Venus); SALZBURG FESTIVAL (2000): Turandot (Title role); BAYERISCHE STAATSOPER MÜNCHEN (since 1997): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Elektra (Title role), Lohengrin (Ortrud), Tannhäuser (Venus), Parsifal (Kundry); HAMBURGISCHE STAATSOPER (since 1985): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Tristan und Isolde (Isolde), Parsifal (Kundry), Elektra (Title role), Lohengrin (Ortrud), Der Schatzgräber (Els), Intolleranza (Frau); DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN (since 1995): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Tristan und Isolde (Isolde), Elektra (Title role), Turandot (title role), Die Frau ohne Schatten (Färberin), Lohengrin (Ortrud); SÄCHSISCHE STAATSOPER DRESDEN: Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Die Frau ohne Schatten (Färberin), Elektra (title role), Tristan und Isolde (Isolde); WIENER STAATSOPER (since 1991): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Tristan und Isolde (Isolde), Die Frau ohne Schatten (Färberin), Parsifal (Kundry), Lohengrin (Ortrud), Turandot (title role), Elektra (title role); METROPOLITAN OPERA NEW YORK (since 1993): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Elektra (title role), Die Frau ohne Schatten (Färberin); ROYAL OPERA HOUSE COVENT GARDEN (since 1987): Tristan und Isolde (Isolde), Die Frau ohne Schatten (Färberin), Lohengrin (Ortrud), Die Walküre (Sieglinde); TEATRO ALLA SCALA DI MILANO (1994): Die Walküre (Brünnhilde), Elektra (title role); OPERNHAUS ZÜRICH (since 1997): Tristan und Isolde (Isolde), Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde), Lohengrin (Ortrud); THEATRE DU CHATELET (1994): Ring des Nibelungen (Brünnhilde); OPERA LA BASTILLE (1994, 1998): Elektra (title role), Tristan und Isolde (Isolde); MUZIEKTHEATER AMSTERDAM: Die Frau ohne Schatten (Färberin), Tristan und Isolde (Isolde); TEATRO SAN CARLO DI NAPOLI (2003): Elektra (title role); SEMPER OPER DRESDEN (2004): Götterdämmerung (Brünnhilde).
Ms. Schnaut has worked with most of today’s preeminent conductors including Christian Thielemann, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle, Bernard Haitink, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Peter Schneider, Franz Welser-Möst, Donald Runnicles, Fabio Luisi, Michael Boder, Christoph von Dohnányi, Gerd Albrecht, Carlo Maria Giulini, Sir Georg Solti, Pierre Boulez, Valery Gergiev, Horst Stein, Seiji Ozawa, Ralf Weikertamong others.
Furthermore, Ms. Schnaut has sung interpretations of her most important roles in productions directed by today’s most distinguished directors, including Robert Wilson (Ring des Nibelungen), Herbert Wernicke (Die Frau ohne Schatten, Elektra), David Alden (Ring des Nibelungen), Günter Krämer (Ring des Nibelungen, Tristan und Isolde, Intolleranza, Elektra, Der Schatzgräber), Klaus-Michael Grüber (Elektra), Willy Decker (Götterdämmerung), Götz Friedrich (Ring des Nibelungen, Tristan und Isolde), Ruth Berghaus (La Clemenza di Tito, Tristan und Isolde, Elektra), Jürgen Flimm (Ring des Nibelungen), Robert Carsen (Die Frau ohne Schatten), David Pountney (Turandot) and Harry Kupfer (Tristan und Isolde).
In 1995 Gabriele Schnaut was named „Kammersängerin“ of Freien and Hansestadt Hamburg, and in 2003 „Kammersängerin“ of Bavaria, Germany.
A list of Ms. Schnaut’s discography is available by choosing the "CD" link.
For further information regarding masterclasses and other projects of Gabriele Schnaut, please click on "News".
