Ernst Haefliger
The great Swiss tenor Ernst Haefliger is recognised as one of the great vocal artists of his time. His worldwide reputation rests on his supreme interpretation of German lieder, opera and oratorio which he has performed regularly throughout Europe, Japan and the United States. World-renowned for his interpretations of Bach, his performances of the Evangelist in the St Matthew Passion have set a worldwide standard. He is equally acclaimed and admired as one of the world’s great lieder singers, and his recitals and masterclasses have become legendary. He has performed the rôle of Speaker in Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Houston Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Munich Philharmonic, and with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and James Levine in New York’s Carnegie Hall and in Tokyo. He also gave masterclasses in Zurich, at the Marlboro Music Festival, and in Japan. Ernst Haefliger was born in Davos, Switzerland, studied at the Wettinger Seminary and the Zurich Conservatory, and later became a pupil of the noted German tenor Julius Patzak. He devoted himself to lieder and choral works, and soon established a reputation for impeccable style and musicianship. He entered the world of opera at the suggestion of the late conductor Ferenc Fricsay, and first came to international attention as Tiresias in the world première of Orff’s Oedipus with the Zurich Opera. He then became a member of the Berlin Opera where he was the first lyric tenor for many years. He is applauded as one of the world’s great lieder singers, and his recitals have evoked the highest praise from critics throughout the world.
