Countertenor Jochen Kowalski has announced his retirement at the age of 68.

In a statement Staatsoper Unter den Linden said,  “the career of Berlin Kammersänger Jochen Kowalski began at the Komische Oper Berlin. His roles, many in productions by Harry Kupfer, made him popular worldwide and guest appearances have taken him to all the leading opera houses in Germany as well as to the Vienna State Opera and Volksoper, the Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera in New York.”

The company added, “he is considered a pioneer of countertenor singing in Germany and his artistic work has been honored with many national and international awards.”

The tenor will give his final performance on Dec. 5 in a production of Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea” at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.