Michael Volle – A Portrait (Ralf Weikert) (CD, Br-Klassik)

The baritone Michael Volle, born in 1960, has long been one of the great singers of German opera life. Awarded the German Theater Prize Faust and named Singer of the Year by Opernwelt magazine in 2008, there has so far been no opportunity to enjoy the entire spectrum of this artist on one CD. The BR-KLASSIK label is now presenting the first portrait album that Michael Volle recorded with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester under the direction of Ralf Weikert. The long-time ensemble member of the Bavarian State Opera doesn’t like to be pigeonholed and put pieces together for the CD that are supposed to show the widest possible range of operas, concerts and lieder. In addition to the great baritone roles by Verdi and Mozart, there are corresponding baroque and operetta arias as well as songs arranged for orchestra by Franz Schubert. The focus, however, is on three arias by Richard Wagner, whereby Volle Die Meistersänger von Nürnberg are particularly dear to the heart: Sachs is one of those roles that you never end with, because you always discover something new. Sachs is simply the greatest in my repertoire in every way.