The blind German soprano Gerlinde Sämann was born in Nürnberg.
She studied as a pianist and a singer at the Richard-Strauss-Konservatorium in Munich. In addition she completed her education as a Breath-Therapist according to the method of Ilse Middendorf. In 2000 she received a scholarship for her extraordinary artistic work of the city of Munich.
Gerlinde Sämann's repertoire comprises not only music of the middleages, Renaissance, Baroque and Classic, but also of Romantic Lied, Oratorio and modern Avant-garde music and -theater. But in spite of this large miscellaneousness her focus lies on the pre-Classical repertoire.
As a soloist the soprano works with ensembles like the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Dresdner Kreuzchor, RIAS-Kammerchor, Dresdner Kammerchor, Ensemble Estampie, Armonico Tributo Austria, Himmlische Cantorey, Sette Voci, il Gardellino, Dresdner Philharmonie, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and others. She sang under the direction of musicians like Hans-Christoph Rademann, Ton Koopman, Sir Roger Norrington, Jan De Winne, Marcel Ponseele oder Howard Arman.
A long time collaboration with Sigiswald Kuijken and his La Petite Bande let to numerous concerts and CD recordings, especially of the cantatas and oratories of J.S. Bach.
Apart from this she often works on the opera stage, under others with stage directors like Arila Siegert, Gil Mehmert, Sabine Hasz, Thomas Höft, Chrescencia Dünser or Otto Kukla.
Thus she sang on most of the prominent festivals and concert stages of Europe, for instance the Styriarte Graz, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Festival Van Vlaanderen Gent, La folle journée de Nantes, Festa da Musica Lissabon, Festival de Vezelay Bourgogne, Festival Europäische Kirchenmusik Schwäbisch Gmünd, Rheingau Musikfestival, Berlinder Konzerthaus, Philharmonie Dresden, Singel Antwerp or Concertgebouw Bruges.
Her special quality is without question her subtle musicality, which creates particular sensitive interpretations, distinguishing themselfs - perhaps just because of her lacking eyesight - through a unusual diversity of colours in sound and an intensity which always enchants her audience.
Gerlinde Sämann has been broadcasted nationally and internationally and several CDs have been produced in Germany and abroad.
Sound samples
Johann Sebastian Bach: Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen (from BWV 127) - live
Georg Philipp Telemann: Brecht, ihr müden Augenlieder
mit: il Gardellino, und Marcel Ponseele, Oboe und Leitung
Georg Friedrich Händel: Aria from Alexander`s Feast
Alessandro Grandi: O quam tu pulchra es
Johann Sebastian Bach: Genügsamkeit
Johann Sebastian Bach: Ich bin ein guter Hirt, BWV 85
Choral: Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt
Please also visit Gerlinde on our YouTube-Channel!
