Valer Sabadus

  • Countertenor

General management

"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

 

As "tremendously dramatic, crystal clear, extremely controlled, lyrically fine. " the Süddeutsche Zeitung describes the sound of Valer Sabadus – with his crystal-clear and androgynous voice he sings in the ranks of the world's best countertenors. In 2020, Valer Sabadus was awarded the Handel Prize of the City of Halle and in 2022 the Bavarian Culture Prize.

Valer Sabadus gained international fame in 2012 for his outstanding interpretation as Semira in Leonardo Vinci's opera "Artaserse" (director: Silviu Purcarete, conductor: Diego Fasolis) at the opera houses of Nancy, Lausanne and Cologne, the Theater an der Wien, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the Opéra Royal de Versailles and the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Since then, his international career has flourished in many ways in the fields of concert, Lied and opera.

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His long-standing partners are well-known early music ensembles such as La Cetra Barockorchester Basel, Concerto Köln, Freiburger Barockorchester, L'Arpeggiata, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Kammerorchester Basel, Venice Baroque Orchestra, Cappella Mediterranea, the Accademia Bizantina, Il Pomo d'Oro, Les Talens Lyriques, Ensemble 1700 and Nuovo Aspetto and conductors such as Leonardo García Alarcón, Ivor Bolton, Ottavio Dantone,  Michael Hofstetter,  Andrea Marcon, Alessandro de Marchi, Riccardo Minasi or  Christophe Rousset. His partners include Dorothee Oberlinger, Christina Pluhar, Nuria Rial, Albrecht Mayer, Midori Seiler, Philippe Jaroussky and Julia Lezhneva.

His mutual curiosity is very great, which is reflected in his cross-genre, interdisciplinary and intercultural projects – the trademark of Valer Sabadus. These programs include, for example, "Love Songs" with the Syrian singer Dima Orsho and Musica Alta Ripa, a combination of music by Henry Purcell and composers from the Orient or the program "Closer to Paradise" with the classic band SPARK with longing sounds from Handel to the rock band Rammstein.

These projects can be found in his discography, such as "Café – Orient meets Occident" (2012) and "Trialog - Music for the One God" with the Turkish Pera Ensemble (2013), "Alla Napoletana" with the Ensemble L'Arpeggiata (2021) or "Closer to Paradise" with the classical band SPARK (2022). They thus occupy an important place alongsideopera, concert and solo literature in his extensive and varied discography. The now more than 25 productions testify to the wide range of his artistic work and range from early Baroque works by Claudio Monteverdi and Francesco Cavalli to Italian sacred and operatic music of the 18th century, Sergei Rachmaninov's Vocalise and expressionist and contemporary works, such as Enjott Schneider's requiem "In the Name of the Rose" (2012).

In the field of opera recordings, for example, "Vinci: Artaserse" with Concerto Köln, Diego Fasolis, Philippe Jaroussky, Max-Emanuel Cencic, Franco Fagioli, Yuriy Myenko (2012), "Hasse: Didone abbandonata" (2013) or "Vinvi: Catone in Utica" (2015) should be mentioned.

With "Hasse Reloaded" (2011), "Pergolesi: Stabat Mater" (2012), "to touch, to kiss, to die" and others.  with works by Henry Purcell, John Dowland (2013), "Le belle immagini" with the Hofkapelle Munich (2014), "Caldara" with Nouvo Aspetto (2015), "Sacred Duets" with Nuria Rial and the Basel Chamber Orchestra (2017), "Handel goes wild" with L'Arpeggiata (2017), "Caro Gemello" – Farinelli and Metastasio with Concerto Köln (2018) and the CD "Arias–Bach/Telemann" with the Basel Chamber Orchestra (2021), recently released by Sony Classical, Valer Sabadus sets impressive testimonies to his solo  Development.

Valer Sabadus has received numerous awards such as the German Record Critics' Award, ECHO Klassik and the International Classic Music Award (ICMA) as Young Artist of the Year - Vocal 2013.

In the field of opera, the production of Johann Adolph Hasse's "Didone abbandonata" was groundbreaking. Already in 2009 he made his debut as a 23-year-oldunder Riccardo Muti at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival in the production "Demofoonte" (Niccolò Jommelli) and was also heard at the Ravenna Festival and at the Opéra National de Paris. He also enjoyed great success as Sesto in  Günter Krämer's production of "La Clemenza di Tito" at the Mozart Summer in Schwetzingen, as Ruggiero in  Antonio Vivaldi's "Orlando furioso" and Endimione in "La Calisto" by Francesco Cavalli at the Frankfurt Opera. At the Handel Festival Halle he made his debut in 2011 in the title role of "Rinaldo" with the Berlin Lautten Compagney. Further engagements led him to the Cologne Opera in the title role "Leucippo" (Johann Adolph Hasse), to the Staatsoper Berlin, the Semperoper Dresden and several times to the Opéra Royal de Versailles.

He celebrated great international success as Menelao in Francesco Cavalli's rediscovered opera "Elena" at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence under the musical direction of the Argentine Baroque specialist Leonardo Garcia Alarcón. The production was released on DVD in 2014.

In 2013 he made his brilliant debut in the title role of Handel's "Xerxes" at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in the cult production by Stefan Herheim under the musical direction of Konrad Junghänel.

In 2015 and 2016 he also shone at the Handel Festival Karlsruhe in the title role "Teseo". He made an outstanding role and theatre debut as Emperor Nerone in  Claudio Monteverdi's "L'incoronazione di Poppea" in 2015 under the direction of Claus Guth and conducted by Jean-Christophe Spinosi at the Theater an der Wien.

In 2016 and 2017 Valer Sabadus devoted himself to compositions by Monteverdi's pupil Francesco Cavalli and made his debut in his early Baroque operas "Eliogabalo" as Giuliano and in the  title role of "Giasone" at the Opéra National de Paris, the Grand Théâtre de Genève and the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam. In 2017 he also succeeded as Ruggiero in  Handel's "Alcina" at the Stadttheater Basel under the direction of Andrea Marcon in a production by Lydia Steier. In 2018 he made repeated guest appearances at the Opéra National de Paris as Angel in  Claus Guth's production of Handel's oratorio "Jephtha"  under the musical direction of William Christie. In 2020 he again portrayed Ruggiero in Handel's "Alcina" at the Staatstheater Hannover.

In the 2021/22 season, Valer Sabadus appeared as Nerone in a scenic new production of Monteverdi's "L'incoronazione di Poppea" directed and conducted by Iván Fischer at the Festival Vicenza, the Grand Théâtre de Genève and the Müpa-Budapest. He also portrayed Orpheus von Gluck in Pina Bausch's legendary production at the Tanztheater Wuppertal, as well as the International Gluckfestspiele under the baton of Michael Hofstetter. In the summer of 2022 he appeared as Metello in the opera "Silla" by C. H. Graun at the Innsbruck Festival of Early Music under the musical direction of Alessandro De Marchi.  This production can be heard in April 2023 at the Easter Festival at Schloss Rheinsberg.  In summer 2023 he can be heard in Znojmo in A. Caldara's opera "La concordia de' pianeti" (C: Roman Válek, The Czech Ensemble Baroque).

In autumn 2023 he will be "Artist in Residence" at the Thüringer Philharmonie with Gluck's "Orpheus".

This season Valer Sabadus makes his debut at the Göttingen Handel Festival with "Closer to Paradise" and SPARK, the Thüringer Bachwochen with L'Arpeggiata, and the Bayreuth Baroque Festival with a solo recital.  

Valer Sabadus regularly gives song and aria recitals at renowned festivals, including the Handel Festival in Karlsruhe and Halle, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspiele, the Rheingau Musik F estival, the Musikfest Bremen, the Dresden Music Festival, the Kissinger Sommer, the Lucerne Festival, the Festival de musique Baroque d'Ambronay, the Froville Festival, the Utrecht Early Music Festival, the Schubertiade Hohenems and Schwarzenberg,  the Styriarte Graz, as well as the Festival for Early Music in Innsbruck and the Grafenegg Festival. As a soloist he has already performed in the Philharmonie Berlin, Essen and Cologne, the Konzerthäuser Dortmund, Berlin and Vienna, the Prinzregententheater Munich, the Frauenkirche Dresden, the Laeiszhalle Hamburg, the Liederhalle Stuttgart, the Chapelle Royale de Versailles, the Cité de la Musique Paris, the Palais des Beaux-Arts Bruxelles, the KKL Luzern, the l'Auditori in Barcelona, as well as the Philharmonies in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Valer Sabadus began his vocal training at the age of 17 at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich with Prof. Gabriele Fuchs and completed his training as a member of the Bavarian Theatre Academy August Everding in 2013 in the master class music theatre with distinction.

 

As of Season 2022/2023

Please use this by Weigold & Böhm authorized Biography only.

Contacts

Photos

  • 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

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

Concerts

Projects

  • Kammerorchester Basel – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    Bach/Telemann

    Details

    Program:

    Werke von J.S. Bach und Telemann

    Contact:

  • Further dates upon request

    Musica Alta Ripa – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor) – und weitere Solisten

    Steffani: „la Lotta d‘Hercole“

    Details

    Program:

    Agostino Steffani - "La lotta d’Ercole con Acheloo" (1689)

    Contact:

  • Venice Baroque Orchestra – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    Rosso viva Vivaldi – Hommage an den roten Priester

    Details

    Program:

    Ouverture aus der Oper L‘Olimpiade
    aus L’Olimpiade (RV725), Arie des Megacle: „Lo seguitai felice“
    aus Tito Manlio (RV 738), Arie des Lucio : „Tu dormi in tante pene“
    Concerto in G Moll für zwei Celli, Streicher und Basso Continuo
    Mottetto, RV 632: „Sum in medio tempestatum“ per due Violìni, Viola, basso continuo ed Organo
    Concerto „il Cardellino“ für Flautino, Streichern und Basso Continuo
    aus „Il Giustino“ Arie des Anastasio: „Vedrò con mio diletto“
    aus Nisi Dominus, RV: 608 Arie „Cum dederit“ Oder „Gloria patri“ (Solo Viola d‘amore, Organo)
    Concerto in H Moll aus L‘Estro Armonico,für 4 Violinen, Violoncello, Streichern und Basso Continuo
    aus Farnace (RV711), Arie des Farnace: „Gelido in ogni vena“
    aus Oratorium „Juditha triumphans“, Arie des Vagaus: „Armatae, face et anguibus“

    Contact:

  • Venice Baroque Orchestra – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    Rosso viva Vivaldi – Hommage an den roten Priester

    Details

    Program:

    Ouverture aus der Oper L‘Olimpiade
    aus L’Olimpiade (RV725), Arie des Megacle: „Lo seguitai felice“
    aus Tito Manlio (RV 738), Arie des Lucio : „Tu dormi in tante pene“
    Concerto in G Moll für zwei Celli, Streicher und Basso Continuo
    Mottetto, RV 632: „Sum in medio tempestatum“ per due Violìni, Viola, basso continuo ed Organo
    Concerto „il Cardellino“ für Flautino, Streichern und Basso Continuo
    aus „Il Giustino“ Arie des Anastasio: „Vedrò con mio diletto“
    aus Nisi Dominus, RV: 608 Arie „Cum dederit“ Oder „Gloria patri“ (Solo Viola d‘amore, Organo)
    Concerto in H Moll aus L‘Estro Armonico,für 4 Violinen, Violoncello, Streichern und Basso Continuo
    aus Farnace (RV711), Arie des Farnace: „Gelido in ogni vena“
    aus Oratorium „Juditha triumphans“, Arie des Vagaus: „Armatae, face et anguibus“

    Contact:

  • Stuttgarter Kammerorchester (18 Musiker) – Julia Lezhneva (Sopran) – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    In Paradis Gloriae

    Details

    Program:

    Pärt - Werke für Orchester alleine und mit Solisten
    Pergolesi - Stabat Mater für Sopran, Alt und Streicher

    Contact:

  • Standard Repertoire - 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:

  • Standard Repertoire - 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 - Línvitation 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:

  • Standard Repertoire - Dates upon request

    Valer Sabadus (Countertenor), N.N. (Alt) & Nuovo aspetto (11 Musiker)

    Wiener Kostbarkeiten

    Details

    Program:

    Francesco Bartolomeo Conti (1682-1732) - Sinfonia aus Il Trionfo dell' Amicizia, Wien 1711 7’
    Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) - Arie “Ho nel petto un cor si forte” aus “Il Giustino” für Sopran, Salterio, Streicher und B.C. 8’
    Francesco Bartolomeo Conti - Rezitativ „Voi dunque ardite“ und Arie “Scelta Idea di nobiltà“ aus Fra queste umbrose piante Für Sopran Traversflöte, Chalumeau, Violinen und B.C. 5’31’
    Maria Antonia Walpurgis? (1724-1780) Arie „Maris procella“ aus Amici Pastores, München 1741 für Sopran, Mandoline, Streicher und B.C. 4’
    Luca Antonio Predieri (1688-1767) - Arie „Cieco ciascun mi crede“ aus La Pace frà la virtù, e la Belezza, Wien 1738 Für Sopran, Viola, Streicher und B.C. 10’
    Giuseppe Porsile (1680-1750) - Andante aus dem Componimento per Musica Il Giorno Felice, Prag 1723 1’
    Francesco Bartolomeo Conti - Arie „Dei colli nostri“ aus Il trionfo dell’amicizia, Wien 1711 Für Sopran, Harfe, Mandoline, Baryton, Viola, Kontrabass und B.C. 5’30’
    (Netto 42 Minuten)
    PAUSE
    Antonio Caldara - Arie „Questo è il prato“ aus Tirsi e Nigella, Wien 1726 Für Sopran, Chalumeau, Traversflöte, Laute, Harfe und B.C. 6’18’’
    Antonio Maria Bononcini - Sinfonia vaga, e suave g-moll aus Il trionfo della grazia, Wien 1707 Für Chalumeau, Traversflöte, Gambe, Streicher und B.C. 1’45’’
    Francesco Corselli (1705-1778) - Rezitativ „Ch'io t'abbandoni“ und Arie „Tornata sereni” aus Achille in Sciro, Madrid 1744 für Sopran, Salterio, Bläser, Streicher und B.C. 9’
    Francesco Bartolomeo Conti - Preludio aus David 1724 Für Theorbe, Streicher und B.C. 1’56’’
    Francesco Bartolomeo Conti - Arie „Se mai dal crudo artiglio“ aus Archelao, re di Cappadocia 1722 Für Sopran, Violoncello, Theorbe, Streicher und B.C. 8’25’’
    (Netto 28 Minuten)

    Contact:

  • Standard Repertoire - Dates upon request

    Musica Alta Ripa – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor) – Dima Orsho (Sopran)

    „Songs of Love" - Henry Purcell und Musik aus Arabien

    Details

    Program:

    Eine Produktion von Danya Segal

    Jede Musik hat eine besondere Herkunft und Identität. Wie keine andere Kunstform kann sie aber auch Menschen verbinden, ihre Träume und Hoffnungen, ihre Enttäuschungen und Gefühle zum Ausdruck bringen. Das gilt in besonderem Maße für das tiefste und stärkste aller menschlichen Gefühle: Die Liebe. Selbstliebe, Partnerliebe, Liebe zur Heimat – der Bogen, den die Liebe spannt, reicht unendlich weit. Unter ihm verlieren Ängste, Grenzen und Vorurteile ihre Schwere.
    „O Solitude“ bedeutet in deutscher Übersetzung Einsamkeit und steht für Schmerz, Sehnsucht, Bitternis, Kälte. Doch wenn der weltbekannte Countertenor Valer Sabadus sie in „Songs of Love“ in Töne übersetzt, die schon vor mehr als 300 Jahren Englands bedeutendster Komponist Henry Purcell (1659-1695) verfasste, lernen wir Einsamkeit und Liebesschmerz auch von ihrer beglückenden Seite kennen. Purcell überrascht immer wieder durch ungewöhnliche harmonische Wendungen und sorgt mit genialen kontrapunktischen und rhythmischen Überraschungen innerhalb einfacher Musikstrukturen für große Emotionen. Purcell kombinierte englische Musiktradition mit innovativen Impulsen aus Frankreich und Italien. Er war offen für Neues!
    Arabische Musik findet man selten dokumentiert, sie wurde von Generation zu Generation weitergegeben. Daher haben wir uns mit alten Gedichten und Musikformen aus Arabien beschäftigt. Die renommierte Sängerin und Komponistin Dima Orsho hat für das Programm Musik zum Thema Liebe aus der arabischen Welt neu arrangiert und komponiert. In ihren eigenen Kompositionen, integriert sie alte arabische Musik-Formen, was Interpretation und vor allem Improvisation verlangt. In ihrer Auftragskomposition „Wallada’s Lament“ vertont sie ein Gedicht der Staatsfrau und Prinzessin Wallada (994-1091), Tochter des Kalifen von Cordoba.
    Bei „Songs of Love – Henry Purcell und Musik aus Arabien“ wird sich einerseits jeder Künstler mit Musik aus seinem Kulturraum präsentieren und andererseits werden wir gemeinsam Grenzen überschreiten und zusammen eine neue Klangwelt entdecken. So begegnen sich Dima Orsho und Valer Sabadus in vier Duetten, in denen beide ihre jeweilige musikalische „Komfortzone“ verlassen und Neues wagen.
    Bereits durch die teilweise neue Instrumentierung alter Werke und den wunderbaren homogenen und doch exotischen Klang der vorgesehenen Instrumente sorgt das preisgekrönte Ensemble MUSICA ALTA RIPA zusammen mit den Ausnahmekünstlern Milad Khawam, Mevan Younes und Hogir Göregen für ein Feuerwerk der Liebe. Die alten Instrumente des europäischen Barocks werden um Duduk, Trompete, Buzuq und Perkussion (u.a. Darbuka, Tombak, Daf) ergänzt.
    Der Funke zwischen den Musikkulturen aus Orient und Okzident ist so groß, dass wir mit „Songs of Love – Henry Purcell und Musik aus Arabien“ bereits zum dritten Mal barocke und orientalische Klangwelten verweben. Auch, weil die Zusammenarbeit für uns Künstler so spannend und inspirierend ist. Hinter allem steht die Liebe zur Musik.

    Danya Segal

    Programm:

    Milad Khawam - Duduk Solo Improvisation
    Henry Purcell - O Solitude, my sweetest Choice
    Dima Orsho - Ya Ghazali (Arrangement)
    Henry Purcell - If Love's a sweet Passion (The Fairy Queen)
    Hogir Göregen - Percussion Solo Improvisation
    Henry Purcell - Strike the
    Dima Orsho - Wallada’s Lament
    Henry Purcell - Monkey's Dance (The Fairy Queen)
    Wanis Wartanian - Longa Shanhnaz (Arrangement M. Yamani)
    Henry Purcell - Sound the Trumpet (Come ye sons of Art)
    Henry Purcell - First Act Tune (King Arthur)
    Henry Purcell - Third Act Tune (The Fairy Queen)
    Fouad Abdel Magid - Ya Ghareeb Al Dar (Arrangement D. Orsho)
    Henry Purcell - Jig First Act Tune (The Fairy Queen)
    Henry Purcell - Adagio (The Indian Queen)
    Henry Purcell - The Plaint: O let me weep (The Fairy Queen)
    Dima Orsho - Those forgotten on the Banks of the Euphrates

    Contact:

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Biographie 2022/23

Closer to Paradise - program and discription