Born: April 1, 1946 - Fribourg, Switzerland

The Swiss bass-baritone, Michel Brodard, studied virtuoso at the Conservatory of Freiburg (CH) with Vermerk Summa and finished his studies with congratulation of the jury.

Following his studies, Michel Brodard began an intensive concert career. He participates in many concerts and festivals in Switzerland, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Israel, Argentina, etc., under the direction of great conductors such as Michel Corboz, Igor Markevitch, Edwin Loehrer, Horst Stein, Yehudi Menuhin, Armin Jordan, Helmuth Rilling, Michel Plasson, Philippe Herreweghe, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Neeme Järvi, Marcello Viotti, Fabio Luisi…

Great works (oratorios, passions, masses) and lesser well-known works determine Michel Brodard's wide repertoire and he sings both classical and contemporary music. He is a sought-after actor and performer for stage works from Paisiello to Britten and for concerts literature from Bach to Ravel. His interpretations are praised highly and bring him the loyalty of his public. Several contemporary composers, (Théo, Flury, Edouard Garo, Michel Hostettler, Marcel Landowski, Laurent Mettraux, Norbert Moret, Oscar Moret, Andreas Nick, Andreas Pflueger, René Oberson, François Pantillon, Jorge Pepi Alos) turned to him for the premieres of their works, some of them were even written especially for him. The work Zone by Fritz Veogelin for solo bass, instruments and choir, ordered by Swiss Radio RSR Espace 2, and performed in July 1993, received in Montreal the Gilson Musique prize 1993.

In the opera Michel Brodard sings many roles in works of Paisiello, Rossini, Cimarosa, Donizetti, Gluck, Georges Bizet, Purcell and Benjamin Britten. His interpretation of the title role in Owen Wingrave by Britten was generally highly praised.

Michel Brodard's CD recordings include works of Monteverdi, Bach, Schubert, Ravel etc., under the direction of Michel Corboz, Armin Jordan, Helmuth Rilling and Neeme Järvi.

Since 1997 Michel Brodard gives singing lessons at the Musikhochschule in Luzern.

Source: Liner notes to the CD ‘Bach: Sacred Music in Latin 2’ conducted by Helmuth Rilling (Hänssler, 1999); Steffisburger Kammerchor Website (2001), English translation by Aryeh Oron (March 2004)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2001, March 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Karl-Friedrich Beringer

Bass

BWV 245

Michel Corboz

Bass

BWV 233-242, BWV 245, BWV 248

Christophe Gesseney

Bass

BWV 232

Peter Neumann

Bass

BWV 245

Beat Raaflaub

Bass

BWV 248

Helmuth Rilling

Bass

BWV 236

Links to other Sites

Michel Brodard (Coeur de Chambre de l’Université de Freiburg) [French]
Konzert Winter 2001 (Steffisburger Kammerchor) [German]

Kichenchor Thun-Strättligen - Solisten [N/A]
Michel Brodard - Bass (Sinfonietta Archiv)

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