KUPFER, JOCHEN
MEES, REINILD

Songs of Schumann
Liederkreis op. 24 (Heine);
Lieder op. 35 (Kerner)

Jochen Kupfer, born 1969 in Grimma (Germany) started his vocal training already at the age of 10. As from 1989, he studied with Professor Helga Forner at the Musikhochschule Leipzig. He followed masterclasses with amongst others Aldo Baldin, Theo Adam and Elio Battaglia. He completed his studies with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. The artistic development of Jochen Kupfer resulted in several prizes and awards: winner of the 1991 Mozart-Fest-Wettbewerb in Wrzburg, special award of the Academia Vocalis Tirolensis 1991, prize-winner at the International J.S. Bach Competition in Leipzig 1992, first price at the VDML Bundeswettbewerb in Berlin 1992, first prize at the Mendelssohn Bartholdy Competition in Berlin 1993, scholarship of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, award of the Richard Wagner stipend 1994, 2nd prize at the Meistersnger competition Nrnberg 1995. In the concert-field Jochen Kupfer sings works from Bach and Handel through Mendelssohn to Britten. He is regularly heard with the Thomanerchor Leipzig, the Berliner Singakademie and with the Bachchor Salzburg, conducted by Howard Arman. He especially likes to sing Lieder.
In January 1996 he performed the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen of Mahler, with the Gewandhauserorchester Leipzig, conducted by Kurt Masur. As from the 1997/98 season he joined the Semperoper Dresden. After extensive piano studies with Gerard van Blerk, Nol Lee and Malcolm Frager, the Dutch pianist Reinild Mees concentrated her activities on accompanying singers and instrumentalists in recital. High-ranking artists as Elly Ameling, Grard Souzay and Sandor Vgh helped her refine and perfect her talents in this demanding mtier.

Today Reinild Mees is a much sought-after accompanist for song recitals and duo concerts. She performs regularly in radio and television broadcasts. In addition to accompanying master-classes for Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Irmgard Seefried and Galina Vishnyevskaya she also accompanies at a number of International competitions. As a vocal coach Reinild Mees has taught at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory, the European Centre for Opera and Vocal Art(Ghent) and at the International Opera Centre Amsterdam. Dopo aver completato approfonditi studi di pianoforte sotto la guida di Grard van Blerk, Nol Lee e Malcolm Frager, la pianista olandese Reinild Mees ha concentrato la sua attivit concertistica quale accompagnatrice di cantanti e strumentisti. Grandi artisti quali Elly Ameling, Grard Souzay e Sandor Vegh hanno contribuito a rifinire e perfezionare il suo talento in questarte difficile. Oggi Reinild Mees uno degli accompagnatori pi richiesti nel campo Liederistico e in quello del duo strumentale. Tiene regolarmente concerti registrati dalla Radio e dalla Televisione. Oltre ad essere stata assistente ed accompagnatore delle masterclass di Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Irmgard Seefried e Galina Vishnyevskaya, viene invitata a collaborare con numerosi concorsi internazionali di canto. Quale maestro sostituto ed insegnante di repertorio, Reinild Mees ha lavorato al Conservatorio Sweelinck di Amsterdam, allEuropean Center for Opera and Vocal Arts di Gent e allInternational Opera Center di Amsterdam.

Awards:
Editors choice Gramophone

() Kupfers intelligente gestaltung gleitet niemals in Manierriertheit ab. () () die hollndische Pianistin Reinild Mees ermglicht durch ihr differenziertes spiel eine homogene Balance mit dem Interpreten. Blitz
() a Lieder singer of uncommon gifts. American Record Guide A highly gifted and intelligent singer () one of the most satisfying, finely executed discs of Schumann interpretation ever to come my way. Gramophone
() kernachtig van toon, arm aan vibrato, rijk aan aandrukking, en vooral dienstbaar aan het gezongene () Volkskrant () bijzonder fraaie, edele en vloeiend klinkende bariton. () Luister
() Reinild Mees leidt de bariton met zachte hand door de verschillende passies en emoties heen. () () Een kleinood. Haarlems Dagblad
() Kupfer instantly commands attention as a performer of assurance and individual expression () () He never loses sight of the forest for the trees; the general sense of a song is always well projected () Fanfare