Hartmut Höll

Biography

He trained in Stuttgart, Milan and Munich, specializing in art song accompaniment. From the time of his début in 1973 he has worked closely with the soprano (later mezzo-soprano) Mitsuko Shirai, winning the Hugo Wolf Competition in Vienna, the Robert Schumann Competition at Zwickau (1974) and international prizes in 1976 in Athens and 's-Hertogenbosch. For many years their recitals have been acclaimed throughout Europe and the United States, as well as in Japan, the Middle East and South America. They have also recorded extensively together.

Höll was also frequent accompanist to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, from 1982 until the singer's retirement in 1993. Their recording of Beethoven's songs won special praise for Höll's finely shaded playing. Another close associate has been the viola player Tabea Zimmermann, and they too have made some remarkable recordings, including sonatas by Brahms and Shostakovich,.

Since 2001 he has accompanied Renée Fleming for recitals in Europe, Australia, Asia and the United States. He has also worked with other singers, such as Urszula Kryger, Yvonne Naef, Jochen Kowalski, René Pape, Christoph Prégardien, Hermann Prey, Jadwiga Rappé, Peter Schreier, and Roman Trekel, and the clarinettist Sabine Meyer.

Teaching

Höll is professor at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe and a visiting professor in Salzburg and Helsinki. He also serves as artistic director of the International Hugo Wolf Academy in Stuttgart.

Writing

Selected discography