Benjamin Appl; "An die Leier"; Franz Schubert

Benjamin Appl--baritone Graham Johnson---piano 2016 Live Wigmore Hall ====================== "Benjamin Appl (born 26 June 1982) is a German-British lyric baritone, a classical singer who has appeared world-wide in opera houses and concert halls, particularly known as a Lieder singer. Early life and education Born in Regensburg, Appl has two older brothers, with whom he sang as a chorister with the Regensburger Domspatzen, the boys' choir at the Regensburg Cathedral, performing in concerts across Europe and Asia. Following secondary school, rather than spending a compulsory year in the army he completed his alternative community service working for the Bayerischer Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund in Regensburg, providing assistance to blind people in the community. He started training as a bank clerk at the Liga Bank in Regensburg. He then studied business administration at the University of Regensburg, graduating in 2009 with a diploma. His diploma thesis, an empirical study of withdrawn initial public offerings, received the highest possible marks.[1] He was awarded a scholarship from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes between 2007 and 2012.[2] While studying for his management diploma, he auditioned at the Musikhochschule Augsburg for the soloist class taught by Edith Wiens. Under her tutelage, he continued his vocal training from 2008 at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, and at the opera class at Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding, based at the Prinzregententheater. He also participated in Helmut Deutsch's Lieder class. In 2009, Appl met Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau at a public masterclass of the Schubertiade in Schwarzenberg, Austria, which led to his receiving private lessons as his last student until Fischer-Dieskau's death in May 2012.[3] In 2010, Appl moved to London to study singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Rudolf Piernay, intending to study part-time while improving his English, before returning to a career in business in Germany after one year. However, he states that "London was quite life-changing", and he "made contact with great management companies, with Wigmore Hall, with some conductors" while still getting offers to return to the bank, but although "it was tempting to return to a safe haven", he eventually decided to pursue his vocal career.[4] During this time, he attended masterclasses with Brigitte Fassbaender, Gerald Finley, Christian Gerhaher, Thomas Hampson, and Peter Schreier, among others. In 2019, he became a British citizen. Opera While studying at the August Everding Academy, Appl took part in opera and operetta productions, including appearing as Ypsheim-Gindelbach in Wiener Blut,[8] Falke in Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauß, Schaunard in Puccini's La bohème and Baron Tusenbach in Tri sestry by Peter Eötvös. Appl performed the role of Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with The Mozartists, conducted by Ian Page.[12] In 2021 he was Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, as well as Jesus in a semi-staged St John Passion at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.[4] Awards In 2012, Appl was awarded the German Schubert Society's German Schubert Prize.[14] Appl was a member of the BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists scheme between 2014 and 2016.[15] During the season 2015/16 he performed as an ECHO Rising Star,[15] nominated by the Barbican Centre London, in some of Europe's most renowned concert halls including Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie de Paris, Philharmonie Luxembourg and Kölner Philharmonie, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Palau de la Música Catalana, Stockholm Concert Hall, Konzerthaus, Vienna, BOZAR Brussels and Laeiszhalle Hamburg.[16] He also became a Wigmore Hall Emerging Talent in 2015.[17] Teaching Appl giving a masterclass in Basel in May 2019 Since September 2016 Benjamin Appl has taught at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London as a professor of German song.[25] He has given masterclasses in Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the U.S. and Vietnam."; Wikipedia (edited)