Thomas Hampson

Thomas Hampson
Franz Johann Morgenbesser · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Thomas Hampson
Birth date	June 28, 1955
Birth place	Elkhart, Indiana
Occupation	Opera singer

Thomas Hampson is a renowned American opera singer, particularly known for his performances in the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Richard Strauss, and Giuseppe Verdi. With a career spanning over four decades, he has performed at many prestigious venues, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and the Royal Opera House. Hampson has collaborated with notable conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, and Riccardo Muti. He has also worked with esteemed directors like Franco Zeffirelli and Robert Wilson.

● Early Life and Education

Thomas Hampson was born in Elkhart, Indiana, and grew up in Spokane, Washington. He began his musical training at Eastern Washington University, where he studied with Lotte Lehmann and Martha Deatherage. Hampson later attended the University of Southern California, and participated in the Merola Opera Program at the San Francisco Opera. He also received guidance from prominent vocal coaches, including Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Hampson's early career was influenced by his performances at the Santa Fe Opera and the Houston Grand Opera.

● Career

Hampson's professional debut was at the San Francisco Opera, where he performed in productions of La Bohème and The Magic Flute. He gained international recognition after his debut at the Salzburg Festival, performing in Don Giovanni under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. Hampson has since appeared at numerous prominent opera houses, including the Vienna State Opera, Teatro Colón, and the Paris Opera. He has worked with notable singers, such as Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, and Anna Netrebko. Hampson has also performed in concert with the New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

● Discography

Thomas Hampson has an extensive discography, with recordings on labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, EMI Classics, and Sony Classical. His recordings include Das Lied von der Erde with the Berlin Philharmonic under Simon Rattle, and The Threepenny Opera with the London Sinfonietta under David Atherton. Hampson has also recorded the complete songs of Hugo Wolf and Gustav Mahler, as well as the operas of Richard Wagner, including Der Ring des Nibelungen with the Bavarian State Opera. He has collaborated with pianists like Wolfram Rieger and Craig Rutenberg on recital recordings.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Thomas Hampson has received numerous awards and honors, including the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance. He has been recognized with the Austrian Decoration for Science and Art and the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art. Hampson has also been awarded honorary doctorates from institutions such as Columbia University and the University of Heidelberg. He is a Kammersänger of the Vienna State Opera and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

● Personal Life

Thomas Hampson is married to Andrea Herberstein, and they have two children together. He is involved with various charitable organizations, including the Heidelberg University and the Salzburg Festival. Hampson has also been a supporter of the Metropolitan Opera's Metropolitan Opera Guild and the Juilliard School's Juilliard Opera Center. He has performed in benefit concerts for organizations such as the American Red Cross and the United Nations Children's Fund. Hampson has also been involved in educational initiatives, including the National Endowment for the Arts' Opera Honors program and the Kennedy Center's Arts Education program.

Category:American opera singers