Oliver Widmer Explained

Oliver Widmer (born 24 March 1965) is a Swiss operatic bass-baritone whose international career has encompassed lieder, opera, and oratorio. In 1998 he created the role of Jäger in Heinz Holliger's opera Schneewittchen.^[1]

Widmer was born in Zürich and studied first under his father, the baritone Kurt Widmer, at the City of Basel Music Academy. He made his debut as a recitalist in 1985 followed by further study under Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau at the Hochschule für Musik Berlin from 1986 to 1989. He has been a member of the Zurich Opera from the early 1990s.^[2]

Widmer has been married to the mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli since 2011.^[3]

Recordings

Widmer's recordings on CD and DVD include:

• Bach: St Matthew Passion (bass soloist, "Gebt mir") – Concentus Musicus Wien, Vienna Boys' Choir, Arnold Schoenberg Choir; Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor). CD Teldec 2564 64347-2
• Donizetti: Don Pasquale (as Dottor Malatesta) – Orchestra and Chorus of the Zürich Opera House; Nello Santi (conductor). DVD Decca 000944109
• Haydn: Schöpfungsmesse (bass soloist) – English Baroque Soloists, Monteverdi Choir; John Eliot Gardiner (conductor). CD Philips 470297
• Mozart: Così fan tutte (as Don Alfonso) – Orchestra and Chorus of the Zürich Opera House; Franz Welser-Möst (conductor). DVD Arthaus Musik 101495
• Purcell: King Arthur (multiple roles) – Vienna Concentus Musicus, Vienna State Opera Chorus; Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor). Recorded live at the Salzburg Festival. DVD Euroarts 2054508
• Schumann: Genoveva (as Siegfried) – Chamber Orchestra of Europe; Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor). CD Teldec 013144

Notes and References

1. Ericson, Kristina (2004). Heinz Holliger—Spurensuche eines Grenzgängers. p. 619. Peter Lang.
2. Bigler-Marschall, Ingrid (ed.) (2012). "Widmer, Oliver". Deutsches Theater-Lexikon (Weisbrod-Wiel), p. 3313. Walter de Gruyter.
3. Gavina, Susana (18 December 2012). "Cecilia Bartoli: «Incluso a Verdi le abuchearon en la Scala de Milán»". ABC. Retrieved 19 March 2014 .