About
The tenor Hans-Georg Priese was born in Halberstadt, Germany. He studied voice at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin with Professor Heinz Reeh and attended numerous masterclasses including those of Josef Metternich and Ruth Berghaus.
After receiving his degree, he took up engagements at the Hans-Otto Theater in Potsdam and at the Landestheater Mecklenburg in Neustrelitz where he built a comprehensive repertoire as a baritone with a focus on the high „Kavalierfach“. Guest engagements during this time brouhgt him through Germany up to the Leipzig Opera and the Komische Oper Berlin, where he sang his most important baritone roles, the title parts of „Wozzeck“ and “The Barber of Seville”. As a concert artist, he gave Liedrecitals and sang in oratorios, notably the works of Johann Sebastian Bach.
On taking up an engagement at the Südthüringisches Staatstheater Meiningen, Hans-Georg Priese 2005 changed into the dramatic tenor fach with the roles of Idomeneo and Max, the latter in Philipp Stölzl’s much acclaimed debut production of “Der Freischütz”. Many important role debuts followed with the Highlights Parsifal, Tannhäuser and Tristan. In later years as guest he was connected with Meiningen up to 2015 such as Tannhäuser at the original site of the opera’s story, the Wartburg in Eisenach.
During this time he made his debut at Opera Cologne with Stewa in Janaceks „Jenufa“, wich was directed by famous German actress Katharina Thalbach, who invited him as well for the title role of „her“ world premiere of „Rotter“. This role became a great succes for Priese.
So he sang more productions in Cologne as well as Tichon, Erik, Max, Parsifal and Florestan in different theaters like Basel, Lisbon, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Darmstadt. In addition to that came role debuts like Don José, Bacchus and Alfonso in Korngolds „Violanta“
For several productions he was engaged in Würzburg and Saarbrücken, in the latter for the title-role of a belated worldpremiere of „Der Cid“ by Théodore Gouvy, a part for which originally Richard Wagner’s first Tristan, Ludwig Schnorr von Carolsfeld, had been cast. This performance in a production directed by Jetzke Mijnssen earned Hans-Georg Priese a nomination as “Singer of the Year” in the opera magazine “Opernwelt” 2011 survey.
After appearing in a highly acclaimed new production of “Parsifal” there as well he was asked to play Tristan in the 2013 production ”Wagner für Kinder” of the Bayreuth Festival as well as Tannhäuser in 2017 and to be cover for Parsifal and Tannhäuser in the festival theater.
Hans-Georg Priese has now taken up an engagement with the Theater of Altenburg and Gera for the seasons 2015-2017. So far he has expanded his Janacek repertoire with Laca Klemen in “Jenufa”, sang the prominent role of Wido in the rediscovered opera “Rübezahl” by Hans Sommer, resumed the role of Max and successfully extended his fach range with Turridu in “Cavalleria Rusticana” and, as a guest in Bochum, with the lyrical role of Frieder in the Siegfried Wagner opera “An Allem ist Hütchen Schuld”. In Hagen he sang the highly challenging role of the composer Max in the 2016 production of Krenek’s “Johnny spielt auf”
Last Hans-Georg Priese has made his debut as Jim Mahoney in “Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny” and as Andrej in Tchaikovsky’s “Mazeppa” and appears as Florestan, now in the new production of the opera in Halle/Saale. Currently he is working on the roles of Otello and Lohengrin.
Hans-Georg Priese was broadcast by Deutschlandradio Kultur in his roles as Valentin, Cid, Frieder, Wido and as tenor in Mahler’s “Lied von der Erde”. The rediscovered opera “Rübezahl” has been released on CD in December 2016 and is nominated for the award „Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik“.
During his career, Hans-Georg Priese has had the honour of working with numerous notable conductors and stage directors. Besides those already mentioned these include Arthur Fagen, Lyonel Friend, Markus Stenz, Lothar Zagrosek, Gabriel Feltz, Sebastian Weigle, Vladimir Jurovski, Matthias Foremny, Hans Urbanek, Istvan Szabo, David Alden, Andrea Moses, Roland Schwab, Gottfried Pilz and Gerd Heinz.
When his busy schedule allows it, Hans-Georg Priese teaches voice in the conductor’s class of the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin. For ten years now he has worked with students and is appreciated for his pedagogical approach which has its source both in his analytical mind and in his enormous stage experience..