Born: 1945 - USA

The American bass-baritone, John Ostendorf, studied at the Oberlin College Ohio as well as with the teachers Margaret Harshaw, Julia Drobner and Daniel Ferro in New York.

John Ostendorf made his debut in 1969 at the Chautauqua Opera as Commendatore in Don Giovanni and appreaed then with many American opera companies, among other things at the operas of San Francisco, Houston/Texas, Baltimore, Philadelphia (1985 Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos by R. Strauss), and in Toronto. In Amsterdam he made guest appearance in 1979 in the premiere of the opera Winter Cruise by H. Henkeman. His repertoire on stage included in the first place roles like Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Escamillo in Carmen, Ramphis in Aida and the title role in Giulio Cesare by Händel. He had also as successful career in the areas of the concert and oratorio singing. Here he proved himself particularly as a great interpreter of vocal works from the Baroque era (J.S. Bach, Händel).

Recordings: Newport Classic (Siroe by Händel, Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) by J.S. Bach, Ismaele by A. Scarlatti), MMG (Imeneo by Händel, Cantatas of J.S. Bach).

Source: Operissimo Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (August 2001); Ruud Janssen (February 2006)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2001)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Anthony Newman

Bass

: BWV 245

Johannes Somary

Bass

: BWV 158, BWV 211

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