The king of German Lieder – the internationally acclaimed German baritone Matthias Goerne – invited the audience to 90 minutes of utterly captivating artistry on Wednesday evening. In the well-filled Birgit Nilsson Hall at Ravinen Cultural Centre, listeners sat in rapt attention throughout the performance.
Goerne presented the recital without an intermission, a choice that helped maintain the musical and emotional intensity from beginning to end. He was joined by his pianist and artistic partner, Alexander Schmalcz. The programme featured works by two masters of the Lied tradition – Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms – with the sea as the unifying theme, echoing this year’s Birgit Nilsson Festival.
Matthias Goerne is a true custodian of the German Lied tradition, while at the same time continuing to renew and redefine it for contemporary audiences.
2 – 8 August, Birgit Nilsson Hall, Ravinen Kulturhus, Båstad, Sweden
During the Birgit Nilsson Festival 2026, a Master Class will be held with the world-renowned and highly acclaimed baritone Matthias Goerne. The course takes place in a picturesque setting, close to the childhood home of Birgit Nilsson, one of the 20th century’s foremost sopranos. Teaching focuses on opera and lied repertoire, with an emphasis on German Lieder, and concludes with a student concert.
The course is aimed at professional singers and singers in their final year at music/opera college or equivalent.
The Birgit Nilsson Master Class, funded by the Birgit Nilsson Foundation, is part of the Birgit Nilsson Festival 2026, taking place from 3–8 August.
Participants receive free admission to all approximately 30 programme events, including the final outdoor performance of The Flying Dutchman.
More information about the Master Class and registration procedure: link to registration
Matthias Goerne
The German baritone Matthias Goerne is one of the world’s most versatile and internationally sought-after singers, and a regular guest at leading festivals and concert halls. He has collaborated with some of the world’s finest orchestras, conductors and pianists.
Goerne has appeared on the world’s foremost opera stages, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, Teatro Real in Madrid, the Opéra de Paris, and the Vienna State Opera. His roles range from Wolfram (Tannhäuser), Amfortas (Parsifal), and Wotan (Die Walküre), to Orest (Elektra) and Jochanaan (Salome), as well as the title roles in Béla Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Alban Berg’s Wozzeck.
Matthias Goerne’s artistry is documented on numerous recordings, many of which have received prestigious awards.
As a vocal pedagogue and mentor to advanced singers, Goerne focuses his teaching on musical interpretation, textual understanding, and artistic integrity rather than vocal technique. He has held an honorary professorship in singing and interpretation at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf.
For interviews, photos or further information, contact Tytte Julin tel.+46 (0)707 86 00 96 masterclass@birgitnilsson.com