He looks back on an impressive global career as a classically trained bass-baritone, who at the same time feels at home in jazz: Thomas Quasthoff. As “The man with the most beautiful voice in the world,” as Stern called him, he knows exactly what he is doing and what he wants. Indeed, this is a rather unusual ensemble. But when Grammy and multiple ECHO award winner Quasthoff joins forces with trumpeter Rüdiger Baldauf and guitarist Wolfgang Meyer on stage, one thing above all happens: magic!
Three excellent musicians with very different musical roots and life stories. Together, they make emotions in music immediately palpable and transform their rich treasure of musical life experience into a vast emotional sonic world.
Thomas Quasthoff
He was one of the world-renowned opera and lieder singers from Germany before ending his unprecedented career in 2012 after three Grammys and seven ECHOs. The stage did not let him go, and he discovered many new talents in himself. Since then, he has appeared on stage as a reciter, cabaret artist, moderator, and even as an actor. Long before bidding farewell to classical music, he also began to pursue his second great love, jazz, which had accompanied him throughout his life. The microphone became his instrument.
Rüdiger Baldauf
In addition to his extensive live performances, Baldauf has produced five albums and published specialized books. Many know him as the trumpeter for the “RTL Saturday Night Show” or “TV Total.” He toured with Paul Kuhn Orchestra, Udo Jürgens, the “United Jazz and Rock Ensemble,” Shirley Bassey, Joe Zawinul, Maceo Parker, and played in productions with Max Greger, Jamie Cullum, George Duke, Michael Bublé, Ray Charles, John Scofield, James Brown, Gentleman, Thomas Quasthoff, Seal, Liza Minelli, or Barbra Streisand.
Wolfgang Meyer
As a jazz guitarist, he performs in the duo ‘Shawn & the Wolf’ and as an accompanist for Thomas Quasthoff. In these line-ups, he has performed at jazz festivals in Canada, Brazil, and Albania, as well as at the prestigious Verbier Festival in Switzerland and at Schloss Elmau. The experiences from large and small ensembles of various styles and with different instruments shape his playing today. At times, he lets his guitar sound as both bass and percussion.
