The song in itself is one of Brahms’s finest and Simon Wallfisch’s tender-hearted reading of it brings the programme to a magical end…the songs are worth listening to for the dark glow and intensity and Simon Wallfisch milks them of every drop of feeling – always alert to the texts. There are also streaks of warmth creeping in….Simon Wallfisch’s beautiful and nuanced singing with excellent enunciation further adds to the experience….Simon Wallfisch also treats them with all the sensitivity which is his hallmark. His care over nuances is exemplary.

MusicWeb International

“There was an energy and buzz every time Simon Wallfisch was on stage. This was a confident performance, musically and dramatically." 

Opera Today

Simon Wallfisch made debuts in 2023 for the ROYAL OPERA COVENT GARDEN in the role of Deputato Fiammingi in DON CARLO and as the Fünfte Richter in Kongold’s DAS WUNDER DER HELIANE at the DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN and appears also in the roles of Kuusi in Elena Kats-Chernin’s NILS HOLGERSSONS WUNDERSAME ABENTEUER and Barbavano in Offenbach’s DIE BANDITEN at the KOMISCHE OPER BERLIN.

Wallfisch was initially engaged as a member of the INTERNATIONAL OPERA STUDIO at OPERNHAUS ZURICH from 2009 to 2011 and subsequently has appeared in such roles as Fieramosca in BENVENUTO CELLINI for STAATSOPER NÜRNBERG, Marcello in LA BOHEME for TEATRO VERDI CASCIANA TERME in Pisa, and as Escamillo in Peter Brook’s LA TRAGÉDIE DE CARMEN for NEDERLANDSE REISOPERA.

For ENGLISH TOURING OPERA has appeared as both Pelléas in PELLÉAS ET MÉLISANDE and Albert in WERTHER and in 2024 has performed the title role in the company’s season of Judith Weir’s BLOND ECKBERT at the ALDEBURGH FESTIVAL, THE TELEGRAPH saying The dream-like narrative is anchored by strong vocal performances, as Eckbert Wallfisch’s bright baritone fills Snape Maltings Concert Hall., while THE TIMES wrote … subtly nuanced acting and expressive singing., and GRAMAPHONE UK said, Eckbert was masterfully acted by Wallfisch… vocal prowess with musicality and intonation.

He made his WIGMORE HALL debut in 2017, performing with the NASH ENSEMBLE live on BBC RADIO 3, he has appeared several times at the OXFORD LIEDER FESTIVAL, LONDON SONG FESTIVAL and in the program of the LITOMYSL SMETENA FESTIVAL and the PRAŽSKÉ MÚZY festival in the Czech Republic while his most recent concert appearances include being engaged as soloist with the ACADEMY OF ST. MARTIN IN THE FIELDS in its CONNECT – LOVE, LIES & JUSTICE series of streamed performances in 2021, Vivaldi’s GLORIA, the Puccini MESSA DI GLORIA and Reger’s DER EINSEIDLER with the JUNGES ENSEMBLE BERLIN and KAMMERSYMPHONIE BERLIN, conducted by Vinzenz Weissenburger, at the Berlin KONZERTHAUS, Brahms’ EIN DEUTSCHES REQUIEM with conductor, Norbert Ochmann. CARMINA BURANA, for CHORALSPACE, conducted by Sergi Gili Solé, at the BERLIN PHILHARMONIE, and being engaged to both curate the program and appear as baritone soloist with the BBC SINGERS in works from the Terezin Concentration Camp 1942-1944 in the BBC‘s TOTAL IMMERSION series at London’s BARBICAN CENTRE.

2023/2024 has included Jonathan Dove’s IN EXILE with the FILHARMONIA POZNAŃSKA and recitals in the Chamber Series of the SLOVAK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA and in the LEEDS LIEDER series and concerts with the NEUE KONZERTORCHESTER BERLIN.

He is amassing a steady output of recordings, including Songs by Geoffrey Bush (Lyrita 2015), Songs by Caplet, Honegger, Milhaud and Ravel (Nimbus 2017), Gesänge des Orients (Nimbus 2018), Songs by Thea Musgrave (Lyrita 2019), Songs by Robin Holloway (Delphian 2019) Schumann Lieder (Resonus 2019), Brahms Lieder (Resonus 2020) and Kowalski Lieder (Nimbus 2023).

Wallfisch is a graduate of the ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC and of the HANNS EISLER HOCHSCHULE FÜR MUSIK in Berlin and the HOCHSCHULE FÜR MUSIK UND THEATER FELIX MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY in Liepzig. He originally studied cello at the ROYAL COLLEGE OF MUSIC, London and played with several orchestras including the ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, the LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA before concentrating on vocal studies.

© Weaver Artist Management 2024

Der Deutsch - Britisch Bariton Simon Wallfisch debütiert 2023 an der Deutschen Oper Berlin (als 5 RICHTER in Das Wunder der Heliane, Korngold) sowie am Royal Opera House Covent Garden (als DEPUTATO FIAMMINGHI in Don Carlo, Verdi) und Komische Oper Berlin als Kuusi in Nils Holgerson (Kats-Cherrin) und Barbavano in Die Banditen (Offenbach). In der Berliner Philharmonie in 2022 tritt er als Solist in Orffs Carmina Burana mit Choralspace (Solé) auf. Ebenfalls 2022 tritt er als Solist mit den BBC Singers im Barbican Center London auf.

Als Konzert Sänger singt Simon Wallfisch 2024 in Leeds Lieder, Oxford Lieder, Leamington Festival, und viel mehr auf.

Als international gefragter Konzertsänger war er mit der Academy of St Martin in the Fields (Lieder von Strauss, Mahler und Korngold) sowie u.a. in der legendären Wigmore Hall, im Konzerthaus Berlin und in der Hamburger Laeiszhalle zu erleben. Auf der Opernbühne gab er zuletzt den FIERAMOSCA in Benvenuto Cellini /Berlioz (Staatsoper Nürnberg, 2017), MARCELLO in La Boheme (Puccini) (Teatro Verdi Casciana Terme, Pisa 2016), ESCAMILLO in La tragédie de Carmen von Peter Brook (Nederlandse Reisopera, Niederlande 2013), die Titelrolle in Pelléas et Mélisande (Debussy) sowie ALBERT in Werther (Massenet) (English Touring Opera, 2015).

Zu seinen zahlreichen CD-Veröffentlichungen mit PIanist Edward Rushton, die er z.T. selbst konzipiert, zählen Songs by Geoffrey Bush (Lyrita Records 2015), Lieder von Caplet, Honegger, Milhaud und Ravel (Nimbus Records, 2017), Gesänge des Orients (Nimbus, 2018), Lieder von Thea Musgrave (Lyrita, 2019), Lieder von Robin Holloway (Delphian Records, 2019), Brahms-Lieder (Resonus Classics, 2020), Schumann-Lieder (Resonus, 2019) sowie Kowalski-Lieder (Nimbus, 2023).

Nach seinem Konzertexamen als Cellist und Sänger am Royal College of Music setzte Simon Wallfisch seine Ausbildung ab 2006 an der Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin und ab 2007 an der Leipziger Hochschule für Musik und Theater „Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy“ fort. Daran schloss sich 2009 bis 2011 ein Engagement am Internationalen Opernstudio der Oper Zürich an.

Performing Enquiries please contact:

General Management:

Weaver Artist Management

Email |jeffweaver@weaverartistmanagement.com.au

Telephone | +61 (0)403 37 99 37

Postal | PO Box 7670 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne Australia 3004

http://www.weaverartistmanagement.com.au/singers/baritones/simon-wallfisch/

General Enquiries please contact:

info@musicinvision.com

Photographer: Mark Allan

CD Aufnahmen

Wenn der über weite Tonlagen verfügende Sänger sekundenschnell von hartkantiger Akzentuierung zu lyrischer Stimmungshaftigkeit von bezauberndem Klangreiz wechselt und der Pianist die komplexen Akkordballungen mit grösster rhythmischer Präzision und zugleich feinster dynamischer Abstufung intoniert, erzeugen sie “Unwiderstehliche Schönheit” wie der Titel eines dieser Lieder in Slow-Fox-Manier lautet.

Musik und Theater Magazin (CH)  (Walter Labhart)

"Mit Fortschreiten des Programms bewundert man die interpretatorische Wandlungsfähigkeit des Sängers immer mehr, der in dem Pianisten einen sowohl unterstützenden wie herausfordernden Begleiter hat." 

(Lyrita Records / Geoffrey Bush Songs)

Klassik Heute (Ekkehard Pluta)

Simon Wallfisch singt die Lieder mit markant granulierter Stimme, Ausdruck geht  ihm vor Stimmschönheit. Das steht den expressiven Inhalten der Lieder gut an. Für die rare Entdeckungsfahrt, dem Repertoirewert des Albums ist dem engagierten Allrounder ohnedies uneingeschränkter Dank zu zollen.

Online Merker Dr. Ingobert Waltenberger

CD Reviews English

"...Simon Wallfisch and Edward Rushton prove eloquent, expert guides. Wallfisch’s baritone is a sturdy, authoritative instrument... The baritone offers impressive conviction, a natural sense of communication and a broad dynamic range, both from song to song and within each number..."

Gramophone (Hugo Shirley) - Brahms - Songs of Loss and Betrayal Resonus Classics 2020

"...There’s no doubting the quality of his artistry. Dynamics are immaculately controlled... Wallfisch has a consistently fine way with words... his ceaseless shifts in tone create characterisations of quite exceptional vividness..."

Gramophone (Tim Ashley) - Schumann - Songs of Love and Death Resonus Classics 2019

"I was impressed by the clear, confident singing of Simon Wallfisch. Every word is defined; every nuance of the melody is presented with confidence and understanding. He has mastered the sentiment and literary detail and adapts perfectly his vocal style to the various moods of each song. His voice is controlled and never strained. Wallfisch makes an ideal artist for English song recitals. Edward Rushton provides a consistently sympathetic accompaniment to all these songs." (Lyrita Records / Geoffrey Bush Songs)

MusicWeb-International (John France) - Songs of Geoffrey Bush, Lyrita Records 2015

Opera Reviews English:

(Werther / English Touring Opera 2015)

“Simon Wallfisch is a warm-voiced, strong and dependable Albert for whom we also feel deeply sorry; he truly loves Charlotte, and his bitter sarcasm as he hands her the pistols to give to Werther (knowing she will not give them to him) is harrowing.”

Bachtrack.com

"Wallfisch raises the onstage energy every time he appears and reminds us that this is an opera of scale."

Whatsonstage.com

"The standout performance, in fact, comes from Simon Wallfisch who, with his own ringing baritone and excellent enunciation, manages to shine in the role of Albert." 

musicomh.com (Sam Smith)

"As Charlotte’s betrothed, Albert, Simon Wallfisch seemed a neater fit for his role, and contributed a much needed intimation of inner unrest, doubt and tension; there was an energy and buzz every time Albert was on stage. His voice was well-supported and communicated with directness; this was a confident performance, musically and dramatically." 

Opera Today (Claire Seymour)

"Simon Wallfisch, always charismatic, accomplished the unusual task of making husband Albert more romantic than Werther."

Opera Now (Robert Thicknesse)

Pelléas et Mélisande 2013 (Grimeborne), 2015 (ETO)

"Simon Wallfisch’s Pelléas was a joy to hear, his long phrases, his excellent french and his commitment to a role that has defeated many a big name… a force to reckon with in this particular style as a baryton-martin." 

Auditorium Magazine (Eduardo Jacobo Bennaroch)

"Simon Wallfisch brought a gauche, earnest energy to Pelléas that made the character painfully believable. He has a voice tailor-made for the role." 

Opera Magazine (Yehuda Shapero)

"Wallfisch provided some stunningly beautiful singing and finely modulated phrases, responding to Debussy's subtle music.

[He was] an ardent Pelleas. All wide-eyed innocence and beautiful tone, 

Wallfisch's Pelleas was one of the most beautifully sung accounts of the role that I have come across. 

"...thanks to an extraordinary cast.

Simon Wallfisch invests Pelléas with a 

wholly endearing Pierrot-like shyness." 

Evening Standard (Kieron Quirke)

"The appropriately youthful Simon Wallfisch as Pelléas copes effortlessly with Debussy's taxing baryton-martin writing and sustains his energy throughout some intensely physical acting."

What's on stage (Mark Valencia)

"Simon Wallfisch was a delight as her unhappy lover Pelléas, singing with tone and tenderness, while conveying a tangible eroticism on stage which gave their forbidden love a profound and believable, sensuality."

One Stop Arts (Charlotte Valeri)