Over the past years, Benjamin Appl has become one of the great recitalists and lieder singers of his generation. He has performed many of the major song cycles in the repertoire and has made Schubert, in particular, a signature. OperaWire has raved about the baritone stating, that he is a “consummate artist” and one of the “foremost interpreters of German art songs.”

Of his “Winterreise,” OW noted, he showcases “pure musicality and the exploration of human sentiments.”

With a hectic recital schedule, it has become rare to see the baritone in an operatic production. This past fall he made his operatic debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in “Ariadne auf Naxos” and this week he returns to the stage for Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at the Opera de Rouen. Appl will sing his first Papageno, bringing his acclaimed Germanic style and blending it with his comedic skills. The opera will also mark his third Mozart opera following performances of “Cosi fan Tutte” and “Le Nozze di Figaro.”

For those not in France for the performances, Appl will go on tour this summer performing in Oxford, Toronto, Kaunas, Hamberg, and the BBC Proms, among other venues.

Recordings

For those not familiar with Appl’s voice, the baritone has an extensive discography and recently signed with Alpha classics. His latest album is Schubert’s “Winterreise,” which is one of his signatures. He also has multiple albums for Sony Classical including a Bach album and a Telemann album.

Here he is singing Strauss and Schubert.