Valer Sabadus

  • Countertenor

General management

Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography

"Valer Sabadus has an emotional intelligence in his singing that is rarely heard otherwise." Süddeutsche Zeitung

"The countertenor Valer Sabadus has meanwhile refined his vocal art to such an extent, his voice has gained so much naturalness that even the smallest emotions of the Baroque opera characters can be heard in long melodic arcs, trumpeting but controlled outbursts or in highly finely dosed vibrato." Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

Described by Süddeutsche Zeitung as "incredibly dramatic, crystal-clear, supremely controlled, and lyrically refined," Valer Sabadus is celebrated for his translucent, androgynous voice and ranks among the world’s leading countertenors.

He gained international recognition in 2012 for his exceptional portrayal of Semira in Leonardo Vinci’s opera Artaserse (directed by Silviu Purcărete, conducted by Diego Fasolis), with performances at opera houses in Nancy, Lausanne, and Cologne, as well as at the Theater an der Wien, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Opéra Royal de Versailles, and Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Since then, his international career has flourished across opera, concert, and recital stages.

 

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He is a regular collaborator with renowned early music ensembles such as La Cetra Baroque Orchestra Basel, Concerto Köln, Freiburger Barockorchester, L’Arpeggiata, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Kammerorchester Basel, Venice Baroque Orchestra, Cappella Mediterranea, Accademia Bizantina, Il Pomo d’Oro, Les Talens Lyriques, Ensemble 1700, and Nuovo Aspetto. He has worked with conductors including Leonardo García Alarcón, Ivor Bolton, Ottavio Dantone, Michael Hofstetter, Andrea Marcon, Alessandro de Marchi, Riccardo Minasi, and Christophe Rousset. His artistic partners include Dorothee Oberlinger, Christina Pluhar, Nuria Rial, Albrecht Mayer, Midori Seiler, Philippe Jaroussky, and Julia Lezhneva.

Driven by artistic curiosity, Sabadus is known for genre-crossing, interdisciplinary, and intercultural projects—hallmarks of his distinctive musical profile. These include Songs of Love with Syrian singer Dima Orsho and Musica Alta Ripa, blending the music of Henry Purcell with Middle Eastern sounds, and Closer to Paradise with the classical band SPARK, featuring works from Handel to the iconic band Rammstein.

These projects are reflected in his discography, with recordings such as Café – Orient meets Occident (2012), Trialog – Music for the One God with the Turkish Pera Ensemble (2013), Alla Napoletana with L’Arpeggiata (2021), and Closer to Paradise with SPARK (2022). Alongside his operatic and concert performances, these projects are central to a discography of more than 25 albums, covering an impressive range from early Baroque works by Monteverdi and Cavalli to sacred and operatic music of the 18th century, Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, and contemporary works such as Enjott Schneider’s Requiem – In the Name of the Rose (2012).

His opera recordings include Vinci: Artaserse (2012) with Concerto Köln, Diego Fasolis, and Philippe Jaroussky, Hasse: Didone abbandonata (2013), and Vinci: Catone in Utica (2015). Further notable recordings include Hasse Reloaded (2011), Pergolesi: Stabat Mater (2012), To touch, to kiss, to die (2013), Le belle immagini with Hofkapelle München (2014), Caldara with Nuovo Aspetto (2015), Sacred Duets with Nuria Rial and Kammerorchester Basel (2017), Händel goes wild with L’Arpeggiata (2017), Caro Gemello – Farinelli and Metastasio with Concerto Köln (2018), Arias – Bach/Telemann with Kammerorchester Basel (Sony Classical, 2021), and his most recent release, Francesco Bartolomeo Conti: Bravo! Bene! with Nuovo Aspetto (2023).

Valer Sabadus has been honored with numerous awards, including the German Record Critics’ Award, ECHO Klassik, and the International Classical Music Award (ICMA) as Young Artist of the Year – Vocal in 2013.

A key milestone in his operatic career was his performance in Johann Adolph Hasse’s Didone abbandonata. At age 23, he made his debut under Riccardo Muti at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival in 2009 in Jommelli’s Demofoonte, which was also staged at the Ravenna Festival and Opéra National de Paris. Since then, he has performed to great acclaim in Schwetzingen, Frankfurt, Halle, Berlin, Dresden, Versailles, Aix-en-Provence, Vienna, Paris, Geneva, and Amsterdam.

The 2025/26 season begins with his role as Scipione Servilio in Francesco Cavalli’s Pompeo Magno, staged in Bayreuth, Geneva, Paris, and Vienna. Other highlights include the title role in the world premiere of Malina. Voice over Bachmann by Karola Obermüller in Schwetzingen and Aachen, and the role of Orpheus in Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice, with performances in Potsdam, Nuremberg, Bayreuth, and Gotha.

He will appear in concerts with Musica Ricercata under Gabriel Bebeșelea and soprano Julia Lezhneva in Timișoara, with the Duisburg Philharmonic, the Bochum Symphony under Georg Kallweit, and with Concerto Köln at the Handel Festival in Halle. He will also perform a new composition inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke by Polish composer Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra under Jacek Kaspszyk in Katowice.

Together with Maarten Engeltjes and PRJCT Amsterdam, he presents the Voci Bianchi project in Amsterdam and Nijmegen. His program Closer to Paradise with SPARK will tour venues including the Alte Oper Frankfurt and halls in Blankenberge, Ghent, Antwerp, and Grimbergen. With pianist Akemi Murakami, his duo partner, he continues to give art song recitals throughout the season.

Valer Sabadus is a regular guest at prestigious festivals such as the Handel Festivals in Karlsruhe and Halle, the Ludwigsburg Palace Festival, Rheingau Music Festival, Musikfest Bremen, Dresden Music Festival, Kissinger Sommer, Lucerne Festival, Festival de Musique Baroque d’Ambronay, Froville Festival, Utrecht Early Music Festival, Schubertiade Hohenems and Schwarzenberg, Styriarte Graz, Innsbruck Festival of Early Music, and the Grafenegg Festival.

As a soloist, he has performed at the Philharmonies in Berlin, Essen, and Cologne, the Konzerthäuser in Dortmund, Berlin, and Vienna, Munich’s Prinzregententheater, Dresden’s Frauenkirche, Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle, Stuttgart’s Liederhalle, the Chapelle Royale de Versailles, Cité de la Musique in Paris, Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, KKL Lucerne, L’Auditori in Barcelona, and the Philharmonies in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Valer Sabadus began his vocal studies at age 17 at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich with Prof. Gabriele Fuchs and completed his training at the Bavarian Theatre Academy August Everding in 2013, graduating with honors from the master class in music theatre.

In 2020, he was awarded the Handel Prize of the City of Halle, followed by the Bavarian Culture Prize in 2022.

Please use this authorized biography of Weigold & Böhm only, Season 2025/2026.

Contacts

Photos

  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Copyright Johannes Berger
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography
  • Valer Sabadus © Gregor Hohenberg
  • Valer Sabadus © Gregor Hohenberg
  • Valer Sabadus © Gregor Hohenberg
  • Valer Sabadus © Gregor Hohenberg
  • Valer Sabadus © Gregor Hohenberg

News

2026_Malina_©Annemone Taake

Valer Sabadus in »Malina« Premiere at SWR Festspiele Schwetzingen

Valer Sabadus, Akemi Murakami

Valer Sabadus Enthralls in Bonn and Freinsheim

Copyright Johannes Berger

Videostream - Valer Sabadus at the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival 2025

Copyright Johannes Berger

An Evening Full of Longing: Valer Sabadus Enthralls Hildesheim

© Oliver Röckle

Ovation for Julia Lezhneva and Valer Sabadus in Ludwigsburg

Copyright Johannes Berger

Händel goes wild

Copyright Johannes Berger

Danced confusion of emotions

© LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura 2025 - Studio Pagi

Shining stars of the baroque repertoire in Lugano

Copyright Johannes Berger

Bach's St. John Passion with Valer Sabadus

Copyright Johannes Berger

Valer Sabadus and the hr-Sinfonieorchester under Andrea Marcon

Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography

World-class concert with Valer Sabadus and the Venice Baroque Orchestra in Kiel

Classical band Spark and Valer Sabadus wow audiences at the Mozart Festival in Würzburg

Gkuck-Festspiele 2024 © Beth Chalmers

Magic evening with Valer Sabadus in Bayreuth

Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography

Valer Sabadus today on radio BR-Klassik

Thunderous cheers for Valer Sabadus and Spark in Karlsruhe

Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography

Valer Sabadus inspires in Schwäbisch Gmünd

Valer Sabadus © Gregor Hohenberg

Valer Sabadus in Graun's opera Silla in Rheinsberg

Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography

Goosebump moment with Valer Sabadus in Speyer

Valer Sabadus © schneiderphotography

„Viennese Treasures“ - Valer Sabadus with Nuovo Aspetto on WDR 3

Concerts

Projects

  • Further dates upon request

    Concerto Köln (18 Musiker) – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    London 1734/35 - Händel vs. Porpora

    Details

    Program:

    Konkurrenzkampf zwischen Nicola Porpora und der "Opera of the Nobility" am Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre und Georg Friedrich Händels "Royal Academy of Music" am Haymarket Theatre und später dem Covent Garden Theatre.
    Ein Clash zwischen zwei Gesangsstars der damaligen Zeit, Farinelli und Carestini.

    Programm:
    G.F. Händel - "Gran Tonante, Giove immenso", Arie des Apollo aus "Parnasso in Festa" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    N. Porpora - "Nel già bramoso petto", Arie des Achille aus "Ifigenie in Aulide" (Kastrat: Farinelli)
    G.F. Händel - "Oh patria! Oh cittadini!", "Sol ristoro di mortali", Arien des Teseo aus "Arianna in Creta" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Qui ti sfido, o mostro infame!", Arie des Teseo aus "Arianna in Creta" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    ~
    R. Broschi - "Or la nube procellosa", "Se al labbro mio non credi", aus Pasticcio "Artaserse" (Kastrat: Farinelli)
    G.F. Händel - "Non tardate, fauni ancora", Arie des Apollo aus "Parnasso in festa" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Scherza infida", Arie des Ariodante aus "Ariodante" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Sento il fato", Arie de Aci aus "Polifemo" (Kastrat: Farinelli)

    Contact:

  • Further dates upon request

    Valer Sabadus (Countertenor) & Akemi Murakami (Klavier)

    Clair de Lune

    Details

    Program:

    Henry Purcell - Music for a while Z583
    Joseph Haydn - The Wanderer
    Benjamin Britten - Greensleeves
    Roger Quilter - Come away, death op. 6-1
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Abendempfindung an Laura K. 523
    Franz Schubert - Ganymed D. 544, Auf dem Wasser zu singen D. 774, Du bist die Ruh D. 776, Ständchen D. 957
    Pause
    Hector Berlioz - La Villanelle
    Reynaldo Hahn - A Chloris, L’Heure exquise, L’enamourée, Dans la nuit
    Henry Duparc - L'invitation au voyage
    Gabriel Fauré - Le Secret op. 23-3, Mandoline op. 58-1, Clair de lune op. 46-2
    Gustav Mahler - Ich atmet' einen linden Duft
    Robert Schumann - Mondnacht op. 39-5
    Gustav Mahler - Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen

    Dauer: ca. 70 Minuten plus Pause

    Contact:

  • Further dates upon request

    PRJCT Amsterdam (15 Musiker) – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor) - Maarten Engeltjes (Countertenor & Leitung) - Daan Esch (Moderation)

    Voci Bianche

    Details

    Program:

    Vor knapp einem Jahrhundert starb mit Alessandro Moreschi der letzte Star-Kastrat. Drei Jahrhunderte lang, herrschten diese Diven auf allen großen Bühnen Europas, um dann verstoßen zu werden. Aber was wissen wir wirklich über diese musikalischen Dodos? Die Aufführung beleuchtet das Leben von Farinelli und Senesino. Sie zeigt den Preis von Ruhm und Verstümmelung, den Mann hinter dem Monster - den Triumph wie auch die Tragödie der Kastraten. Daan Esch, Schöpfer des erfolgreichen Klara-Podcasts De Castraten und Autor des Buches Stem, lässt die Sänger und ihre Impresarios über diese lange verdrängte Praxis erzählend zu Wort kommen. Maarten Engeltjes und Valer Sabadus interpretieren die für diese Megastars geschriebene Musik in einer mit Licht und Visuals inszenierten Aufführung.

    Programm:
    Händel - "Lascia ch’io pianga" aus Rinaldo
    Porpora - "Alto Giove" aus Polifemo
    Mozart - "Gia dagli occhi" aus Lucio Silla
    Händel - "Al lampo dell’ Armi" aus Giulio Cesare
    Händel - "Stille Amare" aus Tolomeo
    Lotti - "Discordi Pensieri"
    Händel - "De torrente in via bibet" aus Dixit Dominus
    Broschi - "Ombra fedele"
    Hasse - "Dov’e? Si affretti" aus Artaserse

    Dauer: Ca. 90 min ohne Pause (60 min Musik, 30 min Text)

    Contact:

  • Further dates upon request

    Concerto Köln (18 Musiker) – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    London 1734/35 - Händel vs. Porpora

    Details

    Program:

    Konkurrenzkampf zwischen Nicola Porpora und der "Opera of the Nobility" am Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre und Georg Friedrich Händels "Royal Academy of Music" am Haymarket Theatre und später dem Covent Garden Theatre.
    Ein Clash zwischen zwei Gesangsstars der damaligen Zeit, Farinelli und Carestini.

    Programm:
    G.F. Händel - Ouvertüre, aus "Parnasso in Festa"
    G.F. Händel - Rezitativ "Ma Prima che s'avanzi" und Arie des Apollo"Gran Tonante, Giove immenso", aus "Parnasso in Festa" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    N. Porpora - "Nel già bramoso petto", Arie des Achille aus "Ifigenie in Aulide" (Kastrat: Farinelli)
    P. Castrucci - Aus: Concerto grosso op. 6 Nr. 12 g-Moll (Satz 1 und 2)
    N. Porpora - Rezitativ "Oh volesser gli Dei" und Arie "Dolci fresche aurette", aus Polifemo
    G. Sammartini - Concerto für Oboe C-Dur (Presto - Allegro assai - Andante)
    G.F. Händel - Rezitativ "Ove son..." und Arie des Teseo "Qui ti sfido, o mostro infame!", aus "Arianna in Creta" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    ~
    J.A. Hasse - 1. Satz aus Sinfonie op. 5 Nr. 6 g-Moll
    R. Broschi - "Or la nube procellosa", aus Pasticcio "Artaserse" (Kastrat: Farinelli)
    G.F. Händel - "Ah mio vor", in Bearbeitung für Oboe
    G.F. Händel - "Non tardate, fauni ancora", Arie des Apollo aus "Parnasso in festa" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - Concerto grosso B-Dur op. 3 Nr. 2 (1. & 2. Satz)
    G.F. Händel - Rezitativ "E vivo ancora..." und Arie des Ariodante "Scherza infida", aus "Ariodante" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Sento il fato", Arie de Aci aus "Polifemo" (Kastrat: Farinelli)

    Contact:

  • Further dates upon request

    Valer Sabadus (Countertenor) & Spark, die klassische Band

    Closer to Paradise – Die Sehnsucht als Klangerlebnis

    Details

    Program:

    AURE DOLCI INTORNO A ME
    Andrea Ritter (*1978) - The Arrival (2016) - angelehnt an Georg Friedrich Händels Die Ankunft der Königin von Saba aus Salomon HWV 67
    Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759) - Augelletti, che cantate - Arie der Almirena aus Rinaldo, HWV 7
    Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) / arr. Ritter – Sinfonia - Ouvertüre aus Giustino RV 717
    Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) - Vedrò con mio diletto - Arie des Anastasio aus Giustino RV 717
    Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)- Allegro aus: Concerto g-Moll Op. 3 No. 2 RV 578

    LA VOIX DOUCE
    Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) / arr. Ritter - Rigaudon aus: Le Tombeau de Couperin (1914-17/1919)
    Erik Satie (1866-1925) - Les Anges aus: Trois Mélodies (1887)
    Kurt Weill (1900-1950) / arr. Koschitzki - Youkali aus: Marie Galante (1934)
    Lev „Ljova“ Zhurbin (*1978) - Tango Heavy (2007)
    Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) / arr. Plumettaz - Au bord de l’eau (1875)
    Léo Ferré (1916-1993) / arr. Fritz - Écoutez la chanson bien douce (1964)

    PAUSE

    AUF SCHWINGEN DER NACHT
    Michael Nyman (*1944) - Vermeer’s Wife (1985)
    Robert Schumann (1810-1856) / arr. Fritz - In der Fremde aus: Liederkreis Op. 39
    Deutsches Volkslied / arr. Koschitzki - Ich hab die Nacht geträumet (vor 1775 / 2011)
    Oliver Riedel (*1971) / arr. Plumettaz - Seemann (1994)

    DREAM AND DEVOTION
    Chiel Meijering (*1954) - Dreams (2007)
    Victor Plumettaz (*1986) - Scotch Club (2017)
    Martin Gore (*1961) / arr. Ritter - One Caress (1993)
    Daniel Koschitzki (*1978) - Closer to Paradise (2019)

    Contact:

All projects

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Biography 2025/2026

Repertoire - Concert

Repertoire - Oper

Closer to Paradise - program and description

Songs of Love - program and description