Tanja Ariane Baumgartner is a German operatic

mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano or mezzo (; ; meaning "half soprano") is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A below middle C ...

. A member of the

Oper Frankfurt The Oper Frankfurt (Frankfurt Opera) is a German opera company based in Frankfurt. Opera in Frankfurt am Main has a long tradition, with many world premieres such as Franz Shrek's ''Der ferne Klang'' in 1912, '' Fennimore und Gerda'' by Frede ...

since 2009, she has enjoyed an international career, appearing in major European and American opera houses and the

Salzburg Festival The Salzburg Festival (german: Salzburger Festspiele) is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer (for five weeks starting in late July) in the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amad ...

Career

Baumgartner grew up in Rheinfelden, the daughter of a teacher who conducted several choirs. She first studied violin, graduating from the

Hochschule für Musik Freiburg ' (, plural: ') is the generic term in German for institutions of higher education, corresponding to ''universities'' and ''colleges'' in English. The term ''Universität'' (plural: ''Universitäten'') is reserved for institutions with the right to ...

. She then studied voice at the

Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe Karlsruhe's University of Music (Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe in German) is a college of music in Karlsruhe, Germany. Originally the Baden Conservatory of Music, it was elevated to a Hochschule under the direction of Franz Philipp, who led ...

and at the Musikhochschule Wien with Helena Lazarska. She was first engaged at the

Lucerne Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic German, High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label=Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . is a city in central Switzerland, in the Languages of Switzerland, German-speaking po ...

Opera from 2002 to 2008 where she learned many parts of the mezzo-soprano repertoire, including Dorabella in Mozart's ''

Così fan tutte (''All Women Do It, or The School for Lovers''), K. 588, is an opera buffa in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It was first performed on 26 January 1790 at the Burgtheater in Vienna, Austria. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte w ...

'', Charlotte in Massenet's ''

Werther ''Werther'' is an opera (''drame lyrique'') in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on Goethe's epistolary novel ''The S ...

'', Mrs. Quickly in Verdi's ''

Falstaff Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays '' Henry IV, Part 1'' and '' Part 2'', w ...

'', Giulietta in Offenbach's ''

Les contes d'Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died ...

'', and Baba the Turc in Stravinsky's ''

The Rake's Progress ''The Rake's Progress'' is an English-language opera from 1951 in three acts and an epilogue by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is based loosely on the eight paintings and engravings ''A Rake's Progres ...

''. In 2008, she studied the title role of Othmar Schoeck's ''

Penthesilea Penthesilea ( el, Πενθεσίλεια, Penthesíleia) was an Amazonian queen in Greek mythology, the daughter of Ares and Otrera and the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe. She assisted Troy in the Trojan War, during which she was ...

'' with

Hans Neuenfels Hans Neuenfels (; 31 May 1941 – 6 February 2022) was a German writer, poet, film producer, librettist, theatre director, opera director and theatre manager. As a director, he first focused on drama, staged at prominent houses such as the Vien ...

for the Basel Opera, a production that received the award ''Inszenierung des Jahres'' (production of the year) by ''

Opernwelt ''Opernwelt'' (''Opera World'') is a monthly German magazine for opera, operetta and ballet. It includes news about current performances, portraits of composers and performers, articles about opera houses, performance spaces, and contemporary and ...

''. Baumgartner has been a member of the ensemble of the

from the 2009/10 season, where her roles included Bizet's

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the Carmen (novella), novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first perfo ...

, Mary in Wagner's ''

Der fliegende Holländer ' (''The Flying Dutchman''), WWV 63, is a German-language opera, with libretto and music by Richard Wagner. The central theme is redemption through love. Wagner conducted the premiere at the Königliches Hoftheater Dresden in 1843. Wagner claim ...

'', Eboli in Verdi's ''

Don Carlos ''Don Carlos'' is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French-language libretto by Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle, based on the dramatic play '' Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien'' (''Don Carlos, Infante of Spain'') by Friedri ...

'', Lisa in Mieczysław Weinberg's '' The Passenger'', the Nurse in ''

Die Frau ohne Schatten ' (''The Woman without a Shadow''), Op. 65, is an opera in three acts by Richard Strauss with a libretto by his long-time collaborator, the poet Hugo von Hofmannsthal. It was written between 1911 and either 1915 or 1917. When it premiered at the ...

'' by Richard Strauss, again Penthesilea and Fricka in Wagner's ''

Der Ring des Nibelungen (''The Ring of the Nibelung''), WWV 86, is a cycle of four German-language epic music dramas composed by Richard Wagner. The works are based loosely on characters from Germanic heroic legend, namely Norse legendary sagas and the '' Nibe ...

''. She appeared as Circe in the world premiere of

Rolf Riehm Rolf Riehm (born 15 June 1937) is a German composer who wrote stage and orchestral works as well as music for ensembles and solo instruments. He began as an oboist and music teacher and was later a professor of music theory at the Hochschule für ...

's ''

Sirenen ''Sirenen – Bilder des Begehrens und des Vernichtens'' (''Sirens – Images of Desire and Destruction'') is an opera in three parts and eight scenes by Rolf Riehm, based on the Greek myth of Odysseus, Circe and the Sirens as told in Homer's ''Od ...

'' in 2014. She made her debut at the

in 2010 as Geschwitz in Alban Berg's ''

Lulu Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, a C ...

'', followed in 2012 by Charlotte in Bernd Alois Zimmermann's ''

Die Soldaten ' (''The Soldiers'') is a four-act opera in German by Bernd Alois Zimmermann, based on the 1776 play by Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz. In a letter accompanying his newly printed play (23 July 1776, aged 24) that he sent to his best friend, the Germ ...

'', staged by

Alvis Hermanis Alvis Hermanis is a Latvian theatre director A theatre director or stage director is a professional in the theatre field who oversees and orchestrates the mounting of a theatre production such as a play, opera, dance, drama, musical theatre ...

and conducted by

Ingo Metzmacher Ingo Metzmacher (born 10 November 1957 in Hanover) is a German conductor and artistic director of the festival KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen in Hanover. Life Ingo Metzmacher is the son of the cellist Rudolf Metzmacher and the research biolo ...

. She appeared at the

Hamburg Opera The Hamburg State Opera (in German: Staatsoper Hamburg) is a German opera company based in Hamburg. Its theatre is near the square of Gänsemarkt. Since 2015, the current ''Intendant'' of the company is Georges Delnon, and the current ''General ...

in the premiere of

Beat Furrer Beat Furrer (born 6 December 1954) is a Swiss-born Austrian composer and conductor. He has served as professor of composition at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz since 1991. He was awarded the Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in 2018 ...

's ''La bianca notte'', and as Ortrud in Wagner's ''

Lohengrin Lohengrin () is a character in Germany, German Arthurian literature. The son of Percival, Parzival (Percival), he is a knight of the Holy Grail sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden who can never ask his identity. His story, which fi ...

''. Fricka was her role again for her debut at the

Lyric Opera of Chicago Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1954, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicola Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria ...

. She performed in 2017 in Frankfurt the role of Cassandre in ''

Les Troyens ''Les Troyens'' (; in English: ''The Trojans'') is a French grand opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself from Virgil's epic poem the ''Aeneid''; the score was composed between 1856 and 1858. ''Les Tro ...

'' by Berlioz, staged by Eva-Maria Höckmayr and conducted by John Nelson. A reviewer noted that her dramatic mezzo-soprano expressed both, the visionary close to madness and the sorrowful lover. Also in 2017, she appeared as Fricka at the

Bayreuth Festival The Bayreuth Festival (german: link=no, Bayreuther Festspiele) is a music festival held annually in Bayreuth, Germany, at which performances of operas by the 19th-century German composer Richard Wagner are presented. Wagner himself conceived ...

Discography

Recitals & Orchestral Works

* Mahler's ''

Das klagende Lied ''Das klagende Lied'' (''Song of Lamentation'') is a cantata by Gustav Mahler, composed between 1878 and 1880 and greatly revised over the next two decades. In its original form, ''Das klagende Lied'' is the earliest of his works to have survived ...

'' (CD, Capriccio 2017). Live recording from 1./2.12.2016 in the Konzerthaus Wien with

Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra The Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: ''ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien'', or RSO Wien) is the orchestra of the Austrian national broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF). Unlike most other Austrian orchestras, the RSO Wien has a sub ...

, conducted by Cornelius Meister. * Mahler's Second Symphony "Resurrection" (2 CD, DreyerGaido 2019). Recording from 2018 with

Stuttgart Philharmonic The Stuttgarter Philharmoniker (Stuttgart Philharmonic) is the symphony orchestra of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1924, they play regular concert series including youth concerts in Stuttgart, as well as guest ...

, conducted by Gabriel Feltz. * Pfitzner's Complete Songs, Vol. 3 ''- Die schlanke Wasserlilie, Weihnachtslied'' (CD, Naxos 2019). * Trojahn's String Quartet No. 2 with clarinet & mezzo-soprano (CD, Wergo 2019). * Schulhoff's Complete songs (3 CD, bastille musique 2020). Production of SWR and recorded in the Hans-Rosbaud-Studio Baden-Baden from 2016 to 2018. Its a complete recording of all 89 songs by

Erwin Schulhoff Erwin Schulhoff ( cs, Ervín Šulhov; 8 June 189418 August 1942) was an Austro-Czech composer and pianist. He was one of the figures in the generation of European musicians whose successful careers were prematurely terminated by the rise of the N ...

– together with

Sunhae Im Sunhae Im (; Hanja: 任善惠; born in 1976) is a South Korean soprano. She has been described as a bright and versatile lyric soprano with lightness and coloratura. She first gained her reputation in the field of early music and now performs a ...

Britta Stallmeister Britta Stallmeister is a German operatic soprano. A member of the Oper Frankfurt from 1998 to 2015, she has appeared in major European opera houses and international festivals. She has performed in premieres, and in recitals and recordings. Care ...

(both soprano) and Hans Christoph Begemann (Baritone). This SWR-Project was initiated by Klaus Simon, who published the scores 2017 with

Schott Music Schott Music () is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe, and is the second oldest music publisher after Breitkopf & Härtel. The company headquarters of Schott Music were fou ...

Opera

Following stage appearances were recorded and published on CD or DVD/ Blu-Ray: * Reimann's ''

Medea In Greek mythology, Medea (; grc, Μήδεια, ''Mēdeia'', perhaps implying "planner / schemer") is the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, a niece of Circe and the granddaughter of the sun god Helios. Medea figures in the myth of Jason an ...

'' as Gora (2 CD, OehmsClassics 2011). Recording of the opening night on 5.9.2010 at

Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester The Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester ''(Frankfurt Opera House and Museum's Orchestra)'' is the resident orchestra of the Oper Frankfurt. Its somewhat peculiar name is derived from the series of "Museum Concerts", organized by the Frankfurte ...

, conducted by Erik Nielsen. * Berg's ''Lulu'' as Countess Geschwitz (DVD, EuroArts 2012). Recorded 2010 during

Vienna Philharmonic The Vienna Philharmonic (VPO; german: Wiener Philharmoniker, links=no) is an orchestra that was founded in 1842 and is considered to be one of the finest in the world. The Vienna Philharmonic is based at the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. It ...

, conducted by Marc Albrecht. * Wagner's ''

Die Walküre (; ''The Valkyrie''), WWV 86B, is the second of the four music dramas that constitute Richard Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' (English: ''The Ring of the Nibelung''). It was performed, as a single opera, at the National Theatre Munich on ...

'' as Grimgerde (4 CD, OehmsClassics 2011). Recorded 2010 at

, conducted by Sebastian Weigle. * Wagner's ''

'' as Grimgerde (DVD, OehmsClassics 2014). Recorded in June/ July 2012 at

, conducted by Sebastian Weigle. * Reimann's ''

'' as Charlotte (DVD/Blu-Ray, Unitel Edition 2013). Recorded 2012 during

, conducted by Ingo Metzmacher. * Strauss' ''

'' as Nurse (3 CD, OehmsClassics 2015). Recorded 2014 at Oper Frankfurt.

, conducted by Sebastian Weigle. * Handel's ''

Serse ''Serse'' (; English title: ''Xerxes''; HWV 40) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was first performed in London on 15 April 1738. The Italian libretto was adapted by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia (1 ...

'' as Amastre (DVD/Blu-Ray, C Major Entertainment 2018). Recorded 2010 in January 2017 at Oper Frankfurt.

, conducted by Constantinos Carydis. * Henze's ''The Bassardis'' as Agave/ Venus (DVD/Blu-Ray, Arthaus Musik 2019). Recorded 2018 during

, conducted by Kent Nagano. * Strauss' ''Elektra'' as Klytaemnestra (DVD/Blu-Ray, Unitel Edition 2021). Recorded 2020 during

, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst.

Guest Appearances

* "Love and Despair" by Andreas Bauer Kanabas (CD, OehmsClassics 2021). Recorded on 20.-22.6.2019 in the Great Concert Hall Riga with Latvian Festival Orchestra (LF), conducted by Karsten Januschke. Excerpt from Bartók's ''

Bluebeard's Castle ''Duke Bluebeard's Castle'' ( hu, A kékszakállú herceg vára, link=no, or ''The Blue-Bearded Duke's Castle'') is a one-act expressionism, expressionist opera by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. The libretto was written by Béla Balázs, a poet ...

'', op. 11, scene 48. Bluebeard and Judith. Door 7: “Lásd a régi asszonyokat”.

References

External links

*
Schedule
Operabase * Christoph Wurzel
Großes Hörerlebnis und prächtiges Schauvergnügen: Les Troyens an der Frankfurter Oper
(in German) bachtrack.com 12 March 2017 * Andreas Falenti
Saalschlacht für Feinschmecker
(in German) concerti.de 20 February 2017 {{DEFAULTSORT:Baumgartner, Tanja Ariane German operatic mezzo-sopranos Living people Hochschule für Musik Freiburg alumni Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe alumni People from Rheinfelden (Baden) Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century German women opera singers