Thomas Hampson

Brought up in Spokane, Washington, Thomas Hampson studied with Sr. Marietta Coyle, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Martial Singher and Horst Günther. He is renowned for his versatility, performing in opera, operetta, musical, oratorio and recital, as well as his achievements in the fields of recording, research and pedagogy.

Thomas Hampson has sung the title roles in Rossini's GUILLAUME TELL, Tchaikovsky's EUGENE ONEGIN, Massenet's WERTHER in the original baritone version, Busoni's DOKTOR FAUSTUS, Ambroise Thomas' HAMLET, Verdi's MACBETH & SIMON BOCCANEGRA, Mozart´s DON GIOVANNI, as well as the world premiere of Cerha's DER RIESE VOM STEINFELD. Other roles include Germont in Verdi's LA TRAVIATA, Wolfram in Wagner's TANNHÄUSER, the Marquis de Posa in Verdi's DON CARLOS, Orest in Gluck's IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE, Amfortas in Wagner's PARSIFAL and Mandryka in Strauss' ARABELLA (Paris). You can visit his diary at: www.hampsong.com/calendar.cfm

In recital, Thomas Hampson has set new standards, especially with his interpretation of the Gustav Mahler and Hugo Wolf song repertoire. Apart from his teaching and research activities, he has designed multi-media projects like Voices from the Heart, a documentary on the music of Stephen Foster or I Hear America Singing, the outstanding anthology about the intricate cultural contexts of American song.

In autumn 2003 Thomas Hampson started the HAMPSONG-FOUNDATION, which aims to promote research projects, symposia, master classes, debuts and lecture concerts around the world. Under the HAMPSON label, the foundation will release the key classical and romantic lied repertoire in the form of a multi-media guide.

Thomas Hampson holds honorary doctorates from both the Whitworth College, Spokane/Washington and the San Francisco Conservatory, as well as an honorary membership of London's Royal Academy of Music. He has been given the titles of Kammersänger by the Vienna State Opera and Chevalier de l´ordre des arts et des letters by the Republic of France. He has also received an award from the National Arts Club of America given for his achievements in the fields of music and education.

Almost all of his recordings have received awards, including six Grammy nominations, two Nederlands Edison Prizes, two Prix du Disque, three Gramophone Awards, the Grand Prix de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque, the Prize de Charles Cors Académie du Disque Lyrique, the Echo Deutscher Schallplattenpreis and the Cannes Classical Award. Thomas Hampson was EMI-Artist of the Year 1997. His recording of Tannhäuser received the Grammy Award 2002 for Best Opera Recording.

In addition to his long-time collaboration with EMI Thomas Hampson has recorded for all the major labels. You can find his extensive discography at: www.hampsong.com/discography.cfm