Arts Global

Thomas Weinhappel was born near Vienna, Austria. His musical talents were discovered at the age of eight as he was accepted into the Vienna Boys' Choir. As alto soloist he traveled with this group to North and South America, Germany, England and Sweden. He graduated with honours at the age of 21 from the Opera School of the Konservatorium in Vienna. Subsequently he finished his master studies "magna cum laude" at the Konservatorium in Vienna and Lied and Oratorio with Birgid Steinberger and Carolyn Hague. Additional studies were with Robert Holl, Sebastian Vittucci and Carol Blackner–Mayo.

In 2003 Mr Weinhappel gave his debut at the Stadttheater Bern as Leonetto in Boccaccio. Furthermore he has had performances at the opera festival St Margarethen, Stadttheater St Gallen, Klagenfurt, Baden and Landestheater Bregenz in the roles of Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Conte Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Lukas (Schlafes Bruder by Herbert Willi), Graf Homonay (Zigeunerbaron) and Herr Fluth (Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor). In spring and autumn 2009 he sings the part of Amfortas at the Wiener Burgtheater and the Bavarian State Opera in the ready-made opera Mea Culpa by Christoph Schlingensief.

Mr Weinhappel has presented numerous solo recital concerts including performances of the complete Schubert cycles Die schöne Müllerin, Winterreise and Schwanengesang in Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Venezuela, Germany and Turkey. He was chosen to participate in the 2003 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition which led to an invitation for a song recital at the Austrian Cultural Institute in London with pianist Roger Vignoles in April 2004. More recitals and concerts included appearances in South America in 2005 as well as recitals with Robert Holl and David Lutz at the Carinthischen Sommer and at the Vienna Konzerthaus (October 2007).

Mr Weinhappel has participated in master classes with Barbara Bonney, Walter Berry, Gundula Janowitz, Norman Shetler and Kurt Widmer. He made his film debut in Michael Haneke's "Die Klavierspielerin" singing three lieder from Schubert's Winterreise. This film received three awards at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.

Furthermore he received the Yehudi-Menuhin-Stipendium. Not only did he win the prize at the 2005 International Johannes Brahms competition, but also the "Gradus ad Parnassum".

Please visit Mr Weinhappel's personal website for additional information: www.thomasweinhappel.com.