Marion Eckstein (Contralto)

Born: Bernkastel-Kues Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

The German contralto, Marion Eckstein, was born in Bernkastel-Kues, and grew up in a vineyard in Monzel an der Mosel. She studied German and music education, majoring in singing with Gisela Krenkel in Stuttgart before she diceded after the state exams to devote herself entirely to singing. She began her singing studies with Julia Hamari, and subsequently completed in the singing class of Dunja Vejzovic her artistic studies, which she graduated with honours. She received major artistic inspiration in the Lied class of Konrad Richter, and in master-classes with Anna Reynolds, Klesie Kelly and Grace Bumbry. Marion Eckstein received a scholarship from the International Richard Wagner Association.

In her busy concert schedule Marion Eckstein has developed a broad repertoire that ranges from early Baroque with focus on on J.S. Bach's oratorios, Gustav Mahler's Kindertotenlieder, Richard Wagner's Wesendonck-Lieder and L.v. Beethoven's Missa solemnis. She also participates regularly in performances of contemporary music, such as Dieter Schnebel’s Dahlemer Messe.

Numerous engagements have led Marion Eckstein led inter alia to the Salzburg Festival, the Bachfest Leipzig, the Ludwigsburger Schlossfestspielen, the Europäischen Musikfest Stuttgart, the Megaron Athens, the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, the Tonhalle Zürich and the Wiener Konzerthaus.

Her musical partners are Thomas Hengelbrock, Kay Johannsen, Hanns-Friedrich Kunz, Ludger Rémy, Helmuth Rilling, Manfred Schreier and Christoph Spering, the Neuen Vocalsolisten, the European Chamber Orchestra, the Bamberger Symphoniker, the Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble, the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich and the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart.

In spring 2009, Marion Eckstein sang on a tour in Spain under the baton of Christoph Spering the alto part in J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), as well as at the Dresden’s Frauenkirche under Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Schumann's Der Rose Pilgerfahrt and Felix Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream. She could be heard several times under the baton of Thomas Hengelbrock, as in J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor (BWV 232) at the Bachfest Leipzig and F. Mendelssohn's Walpurgisnacht at the Zürich’s Tonhalle. Under the baton of Manfred Schreier she sang in April 2010 the alto part in G. Mahler's Lied von der Erde.

Radio productions with SWR, BR, MDR, German and Swiss radio broadcast and CD recordings of Georg Philipp Telemann's Messiah, George Frideric Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem, Christmas cantatas by Charpentier document the artistic range of the young artist. In fall 2009 a CD of Bach cantatas conducted by Thomas Hengelbrock with Marion Eckstein was released, and in spring 2010 a recording of G. Mahler's Kindertotenlieder and Alban Berg's Altenberg-Liedern.will by released by the label Capriccio

“Überragend aber war die hohe Kunst der Altistin Marion Eckstein, die mit unerhört schön leuchtendem Timbre, betörend weich und farbenreich strömenden Gesängen ebenso viel Tiefe wie große Eindringlichkeit in die Aufführung brachte“ - that the press raved after a performance of Elias with Marion Eckstein

Source: Marion Eckstein Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (June 2010)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2010)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Thomas Hengelbrock

Alto

BWV 12

Links to other Sites

Marion Eckstein, Alt (Official Website) [German]