Lothar Odinius

The German tenor, Lothar Odinius, received his first singing lessons in 1989 and participated in master-classes with Bernd Weikl in 1990. From 1991 to 1995 he studied at the Berlin Academy of Arts with Professor Anke Eggers. He attended master-classes with Ingrid Bjoner, Alfredo Kraus and (since 1993) with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. Since 2005 he regularly works with Neil Semer.

In 1995 Lothar Odinius performed the title role of Franz Schubert’s Lazarus as part of the Schubertiade Feldkirch, and sang the role of Pedrillo in Entführung aus dem Serail at the Bad Hersfeld Festpiele; for which he was awarded the “Orpheus Prize“ for best vocal newcomer. From 1995 to 1997 he was a member of the ensemble of the Staatstheater Braunschweig, where he first sang Fernando in W.A. Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and W.A. Mozart’s Bastien. Following he did appear in the main roles of his repertoire on the influencal stages in Europe and abroad. He was heard as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni in Potsdam, as Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte in Salzburg, as Tamino in W.A. Mozart’s Zauberflöte in the Opera of Bonn and as Arbace in W.A. Mozart’s Idomeneo in Mannheim. He was also staged in operas aloof the mainstream repertoire: under the baton of Martin Haselböck he was Bazzotto in Georg Benda’s Il buon marito, he was engaged to perform the title-role in the acclaimed staging of Schubert’s Alfonso und Estrella (Opernhaus Zurich / Nikolaus Harnoncourt) and was heard as Lindbergh in Lindberghflug of Weill at the Royal Opera Copenhagen. He could also be heard in Schubert’s Magic Harp under the direction of Heinz Holliger, Eugen d’Albert’s Die Toten Augen under Rolf Weikert, and in performances of J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion (BWV 245) and F. Mendelssohn’s Elias under the direction of Philippe Herreweghe.

The artist has a strong working relationship with renowned conductors like Helmuth Rilling, András Schiff and Adam Fischer and perfoms regularly with conductors like Philippe Herreweghe, Bruno Weil, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Carl St. Clair, Franz Welser-Möst and Morten Schuldt-Jensen.

Lothar Odinius is also present on various recordings ranging from Baroque: N. Jommelli: Il Vologeso / Frieder Bernius; J.S. Bach: Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde BWV 201 / Helmuth Rilling, to classic: J. Haydn: Die Schöpfung / Enoch zu Guttenberg; W.A. Mozart: Lucio Silla / Fischer and 20th century repertoire: F. Schmidt: Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln / Welser-Möst; A. Zemlinksy: Der Traumgörge / Conlon.

Lothar Odinius is a sought-after Lied singer and gives recitals at the Schubertiade Feldkirch, the WDR Köln, as well as in venues at Paris , Köln, Dortmund , Lindau, Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Hamburg and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival.

Last seasons highlights have included concerts under Helmuth Rilling with J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion (BWV 244) in Madrid , Torino and the St John Passion (BWV 245) in Toronto as well as the Petite Messe Solennelle in Stuttgart . He appeared in W.A. Mozart’s Lucio Silla under the baton of Adam Fischer.

In the current season (2007-2008) Lothar Odinius will work on different projects with hailed conductor Emmanuelle Haïm, he will perform as soloist in Benjamin Britten’s Serenade Op. 31 in Stuttgart , and will tour Canada and the USA under the musical direction of Helmuth Rilling. He will appear on concert stages in Norway , Italy and Germany and performs at the prestigious Schwetzingen Festival in a production of Steffani’s Niobe (Thomas Hengelbrock / Hemleb).