Henner Leyhe (Tenor)

Born: Lübeck, Germany

The German tenor, Henner Leyhe, received his first music and voice instruction as a member of the Boy's Choir in his native city of Lübeck. Having studied the Romance languages and ancient history, he began his vocal studies at the Musikhochschule in Hamburg with Jakob Stämpfli and Naan Pöld. He completed his education in the opera school, in concert performance, and also in Aribert Reimann's class for art-song interpretation. In 1980 he received his artistic diploma with excellence and continued studying in master-classes with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Ernst Haefliger, and Peter Schreier.

In 1980 Henner Leyhe was engaged as a lyric tenor by the Lübeck City Opera where he was a member for ten years. Further engagements included the Kiel City Opera and the Hamburg State Opera. At the same time he started his concert career, which has since then extended throughout all of Germany, Europe, Israel, and the USA.

His large concert repertory encompasses works from the Early Baroque to Modern. Henner Leyhe is especially well-known for his interpretation of the Evangelist in J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) and Johannes-Passion (BWV 245), as well as soloist in Benjamin Britten's War Requiem and L.v. Beethoven's 9^th Symphony. He regularly gives Lieder recitals in his particular field of interest, the art-song. His artistic work includes many radio and television performances, as well as CD recordings.

Since 1984 Henner Leyhe has held a lectureship at the Musikhochschule in Lübeck. He was also a voice instructor from 1986 to 1993 at the University of Kiel. In 1999 he was nominated professor at the Musikhochschule in Cologne, where he leads a class for voice majors and voice pedagogy. In 2002 he was appointed dean and supervises the vocal and music theater department.

Bach: Johannes-Passion: "The burden falls on the Evangelist, and Henner Leyhe is to be commended for his near-perfekt delivery and colourful vocal placement of each syllable, while maintaining hold on the larger, descriptive aspects of the text." - The Jerusalem Post

Source: Chiaroscuro Website; Henner Leyhe Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2009)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Ulrich Grosser

Tenor

BWV 245

Links to other Sites

Henner Leyhe - Tenor (Official Website) [German]