Click on the picture to see the video
“With his superbly sounding voice, Danish-Norwegian bas-baritone Lars Fosser, gives the role (Rigoletto) an impressive dimension and profoundness “Bruno Villien Opera Magazine“
Lars Fosser bringt für die Titelpartie (Der Fliegende Holländer) die Klasse eines welterfahrenen Sängers ein, absteigend in schwärzesten Bass und mit einem gewaltigen, auch bis an den oberen Rand ausgereizten Volumen”
Hans-Martin Koch – Landeszeitung Lars Fosser’s musical and theatrical heritage reflects his life with a stage director father and a singer mother.
His artistic upbringing introduced him to a long and loving relationship with Grand Opera, intimate lieder, and even American show tunes. The bass baritone’s exuberant performances in such magnificent roles as Guiseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, Nabucco, Posain Don Carlos, Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore, Germont and Don Carlo in Ernani, as well as Giacomo Puccini’s Scarpia in Tosca, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, and his portrayal of Wagnerian roles such as Wotan and Alberich in the Ring, shower him with critical acclaim in this repertoire, dubbing him a “magnificent baritone” with a weighty and well-balanced voice, that will bring anyone who hears him to ecstasy,” — as well as ” the new Danish super baritone.” Lars Fosser Has sung under the baton of such renowned conductors as Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Prof. Rolf Reuter (†), Giordano Bellincampi, Thomas Dausgaard a.o. He has also worked with distinguished stage directors like Prof. Götz Friedrich (†), George Tabori(†), Kasper Holten, Francisco Negrin, Katharina Thalbach, and many others.
In 2020 Lars Fosser will make his debut as the Flying Dutchman at the Lüneburg theater and as Jago in Verdi’s “Otello” at the Opera Romana in Craiova as well as singing Escamillo in Bizet’s “Carman” with the same opera company.
In 2019 he sang in the World premier in Niels Martinsens Opera “Lille Soldat” at den Fynske Opera, and the part of Sprecher in Mozarts, “Die Zauberflöte” with Opera på Skäret Opera festival.
Other recent engagements consist of Tonio in Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci” with the Copenhagen Opera festival on tour, and the role of Enrico Ashton in Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor” with the Opera Romana in Craiova.
He has sung in numerous theaters in Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, Spain, and Norway, such as the Royal Danish Opera and the Danish National Opera, Dresden Staatsoperette, National Norwegian Opera, Opera Lyrique des Clermont Ferrand, etc.
Lars Fosser is also a frequent concert artist, thrilling audiences in major venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Danish Radio Symphony Hall, as well as the Tivoli Symphony Hall in Copenhagen, Mercedes Halle in Berlin, and Braunschweig’s grosses Kulturhaus, with such fine orchestras as Staatskapelle Berlin, Staatskapelle Braunschweig, The Copenhagen Phil., Danish National Radio Symfony Orchestra, and many others.
His interpretations of Mephisto in Schumann’s “7 Szenen aus Goethe’s Faust” as well as a soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, were broadcast live on Danish National Radio. He continues to be in demand at regular lieder-abends and oratory concerts.
He is a laureate of several international singing competitions, taking Prizes at the Kammeroper Schloss
Rheinsberg International singing competition and the Center for Contemporary Opera International
Singing Competition and the LYRA international Singing Competition in New York, as well as being the recipient of the Audience Choice Award during his engagement as the leading baritone with the Stadttheater Görlitz, Germany.
2020
“Carmen” (Bizet) – Escamillo – Opera Romana Craiova, Romania (postponed)
“Kristus am Ölberge” (Beethoven) – Petrus – Copenhagen.
“Der Fliegende Holländer” (Wagner) – Holländer – Theater Lüneburg, Germany
“Otello” (Verdi) – Jago – Opera Romana Craiova, Romania (Postponed)
“Requiem” (Mozart) – Bass soloist – Benefit for Medecin sans Frontier
2019
“Die Zauberflöte” (Mozart) – Sprecher – Opera på Skäret, Sweden
“Messias” (Händel) –Bass soloist – NB koncertkor
“Requiem” (Mozart) – Bass soloist – NB Koncertkor
“Requiem” (Mozart) – Bass soloist – Kosovo Philarmonic Orchestra
“Lille Soldat”(Niels Martinsen) – Kristian – Den Fynske Opera, Denmark
“Carmina Burana” – Baritone soloist – Opera Romana Craiova, Romania
“Die Erste Walpurgisnacht” (Mendelssohn) – baritone soloist- Sønderborg Symphony Orchestra, Denmark
New Years Concert – Frihavns Kirke “Opera Concert” – Craiova Philharmonie, Romania
2018
“Opera Gala” – Filarmonica Pitesti, Rumania.
“Lyra Competition” 3 rd prize winner – Opera America – New York
“American Opera Idol” – Finalist – opera Connecticut
“Lieutenant Kijé” (Prokofiev) – Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Sweden
“Pagliacci” (Leoncavallo) – Tonio – Copenhagen Operafestival on tour, Denmark
” The Empire and the Colonies” (Liederabend) – Fynsk Sangselskab, Denmark
“The Crucifiction” (John Stainer) – St. Stefan’s Church, Copenhagen, Denmark
“Lucia di Lammermoor” (Donizetti) – Enrico Ashton – Opera Romaña Craiova, Rumania
“Requiem” (Verdi) – Bass solo – St.Paul’s Church, Copenhagen, Denmark
“Requiem” (Mozart) – Bass solo – Marble Church (Fredriks Church), Copenhagen
2017
Verdi Requiem – bass soloist – Church of our Saviour, Copenhagen
Händel Messias -Bass soloist – St Paul’s church, Copenhagen
Der Fliegende Holländer (Wagner) – Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra/State Opera Rigoletto (Verdi) – Opera Nomade – France
Paulus (Mendelssohn-Bartholdy) – Søborg Kammerkor, Copenhagen
Mozart Requiem – Bass Soloist – Marble Church, Copenhagen
“Lieutenant Kijé” (Prokofiev) – KUSO (Copenhagen Youth Symphony Orchestra)
Teaching Masterclasses at Jyderup Højskole
2016
“The Messiah” (Händel) – Symfonietta Artica, Copenhagen
Verdi Requiem – Bass Soloist – Vor Frelsers Kirke, Copenhagen
«Vier Ernste Gesänge» (Brahms) – Christianskirken, Copenhagen
Teaching Masterclasses at Jyderup Opera Summer course
Bel Canto concerts with Ensemble Chiaroscuro – Lindehøj Church
Beethoven “Christus am Ölberge” – Bass soloist – Christianskirken, Copenhagen
Mozart “Requiem” – Bass soloist – Marble Church, Copenhagen
Selsø Sommerkoncerter – Operaconcerts – Selsø Chuch/ Marienlyst Castle
2015
Teaching at the Jydrup Højskole opera sommerkursus
“Rigoletto” (Verdi) – Rigoletto – Opera Nomade, France
“Jenufa”(Janacek)-Starek- Danish National Opera summer festival production.
Messias – Christianskirken – Copenhagen
2014
“Le Nozze di Figaro” (Mozart) – Conte d’Almaviva-Opera2001, France/Spain
“Rigoletto” (Verdi) – Rigoletto – Opera Nomade, France
Teaching Masterclass in Ottawa, Canada – Festival of Inspiration
2013
“The Cunning little Vixen” (Janacek) – Forester- Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen
“La Traviata” (Verdi) – Germont – Øresundsoperaen.
Rachmaninow lieder abend – Copenhagen
“Ring des Nibelungen” (Wagner) – Alberich (Das Rheingold, Siegfried, Götterdämmerung) & Wotan (Die Walküre) – Copenhagen
Messias – Christianskirken – Copenhagen
2012
“Bluebeards Castle” (Bartok) – Bluebeard – Christianskirken, Copenhagen
“Orpheus68” (Paul Schwartz) – Operaen i Midten/Fynske Opera
Opera-Koncerter with Norske Rikskonserter.
Liederabend – Århus (September) Messias – Christianskirken , Copenhagen 2011
“Rigoletto”(Verdi) – Aalborg Operafestival
Carmina Burana – Carl Orff – Wien, Austria COSA
Liederabend – Mödling –Austria
”Turandot” (Puccini) – Mandarin – Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen
”Opera på Engen”- Odense Symphony Orchestra.
“Il Trovatore” (Verdi) – Conte di Luna – Danish National Opera
Kristian Benedikt-Gala, National Lithuanian Opera, Vilnius.
Händels Messias – Aarhus Symphony Orchestra Händel Messias – Kristianskirken, Copenhagen
2010
Danish Radio Symfoniorkesteret – “7 Scener fra Goethes Faust” – Robert Schumann – Copenhagen (Live on DR)
Liederabend at Societas Pro Musica, Aarhus
“Don Giovanni”- Leporello – Steyr festival – Austria
Gala concert/Tosca- Fredrikstad International Opera festival, Norway
Händel: Messiah – Copenhagen “Robert & Clara” – Fredrik Österling – Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra –
Sweden 2009
Rigoletto in “Rigoletto”-Verdi – Tour of Spain and France.
“The Bad Guy” –released on 1. December.
Händel: Messiah – Copenhagen
2008
Beethoven 9th symf. (Live on DR) – Odense Symphony Orchestra
CCO Recital concert -Carnegie hall , New York,<USA
CD live rcordings and concerts: “the Bad Guy” , Italian Arias. – Ruse Symphony Orch.- Bulgaria
Don Carlo in “Ernani” (Concert)– – Verdi – The Danish Bel Canto Society
Händel – “Messiah” – Copenhagen
2007
Danish national Opera: “Rigoletto” – Rigoletto
Händel – Messiah – Copenhagen
2006
“Eugen Onegin” – Eugen Onegin – Landestheater Mecklenburg-Neustrelitz
Händel –Messiah- Copenhagen
2000-2005
Permanent part of ensemble , Stadttheater Görlitz:
“Tosca”-Scarpia
” Rigoletto ” – Rigoletto
“Madame Butterfly” – Sharpless
“Les Contes des Hoffman” – 4 Villains
“L’elisir d’amore”- Belcore
“Nabucco”-Nabucco
“Les Pescheur des Perles” – Zurga
“The Bear” – Smirnow
“Die Zauberflöte” – Sprecher a.o.
Guestings in the same period:
Städtebundtheater Hof:
“Don Carlo” -Rodrigo di Posa
“Margarethe”(Faust) – Valentin
Stadttheater Brandenburg:
“Tosca” – Scarpia
Stadtheater Bremerhafen, Staatsoperette Dresden:
“Les Contes des Hoffmann” – 4 Villains
Norwegian National Opera (in coop with the city of Halden):
“Aurora” – Karl XII
2000 “The Rape of Lucrezia” – Tarquinius – Det Royal Danish Opera Academy (guest)
1999
“Carmen” – Escamillo- Danish National Opera
“Kronprinz Friedrich” – Kong Friedrich Wilhelm I- Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg.
1997
Danish debut: “Don Giovanni” – Don Giovanni – Det Unge Operakompagni – Copenhagen
International Debut: “Don Giovanni im E-Werk” – Don Giovanni – Berlin
TRAINING
1991-1994 National Norwegian operatic College , Oslo, Norway (1998-1999) Bel Canto School of Opera,
Firenze, Italy Private studies with prof André Orlowitz (1995-1997), and Kammersänger George Fortune (2001-2005). Coaching with Prof. Niels Muus, Maestro Daniel Lipton and Sherrill Milnes (2007- ), Prof Andre Orlowitz (2017-)
Repertoire- Lars Fosser – Bass-Baritone
Composer Opera Role
R. Wagner Die Walküre Wotan
Das Rheingold, Siegfried,Götterdämmerung Alberich
Der Fliegende Holländer Der Holländer
G. Verdi Nabucco Nabucco
Rigoletto Rigoletto
Don Carlos Roderigo di Posa
Il Trovatore Conte di Luna
Ernani Don Carlo
La Traviata Germont
Otello Jago
G. Puccini Tosca Scarpia
Madama Butterfly Sharpless
R.Leoncavallo
Turandot
Pagliacci
Mandarin
Tonio
W.A.Mozart Don Giovanni Don Giovanni/Leporello
Die Zauberflöte Sprecher, 2. Geharnischter, Papageno
Le Nozze di Figaro Conte d’Almaviva
G. Donizetti L’elisir d’Amore Belcore
Maria di Rohan
Lucia di Lammermoor
Marquis de Chevreuse
Enrico Ashton
G. Bizet Carmen Escamillo
Les Pescheurs des Perles Zurga
Bartok Bluebeards Castle Bluebeard
Janacek the Cunning Little Forester
Vixen
J. Offenbach Les Contes d’Hoffmann Lindorff/ Coppelius/Dr.Mirakel/Dapertutto
P. Tchaikowski Eugen Onegin Eugen Onegin
C. Gounod Faust (Margarethe) Valentin
F. Poulenc Les Dialogue
Des Carmelites Marquis de la Force
*W. Walton the Bear Smirnow
B. Britten the Rape of Lucrezia Tarquinius
I. Strawinsky the Rakes Progress Nick Shadow
S. Matthus Kronprinz Friedrich Friedrich Wilhelm II
J. Müller-Wieland NathansTod Patriarch
T.Madsen Aurora Karl XII
P. Schwarz
N. Martinsen
(* old baritonerepertoire)
Oratories & Orchestra works
Orpheus68 Thomas Prokop
Lille Soldat Kristian
Beethoven Missa Solemnis, 9 th Symphony & Christus am Ölberg
Händel Messias
Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem
Mozart Requiem & Krönungsmesse
Verdi Requiem
Fauré Requiem
Orrf Carmina Burana
Schumann 7 Szenen aus Goethes Faust (Mephisto/Böser Geist)
S. Matthus Dithyrambos für Orchester und Bariton
Mendelsohn Elias, Paulus, Die Erste Walpurgisnacht
Söderling Robert&Clara
Nielsen Sprigtime in Fynen (Fynsk forår)
Prokofiev Lieutenant Kijé
Lieder & Songcycles
Aaron Copland Old American Songs (orchestral songs)
Vaugh-Williams Songs of Travel
Brahms 4 Ernste Gesänge
Ravel Don Quichotte a Dulcinée
Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen & Des Knabend Wunderhorn
Schumann Harfner lieder aus Goethes “Wilhelm Meister Lehrjahre”
Wolff Harfner lieder aus Goethes “Wilhelm Meister Lehrjahre”
Assorted songs by Rachmaninov,Schumann, Schubert, Reichardt, Faurè, Brahms , Tosti , Wolff a.o.
DISCOGRAFIA
” Fredrik Ö sterling: Narcissus ” – Österling / Helsingborg Symf. Orch / Borregaard Label: Db Productions
Catalog #: 134
„The Bad Guy“ – Aria cd with an all Italian Romantique repertoire consisting solely of villains and antiheroes. – Label
Classico 2009
Stig Fogh Andersen (tenor) – Wagner Live from Ruse – ClassicO 2009
“Elias” – Mendelsohn-Bartholdy – Kongsberg Kantori & Oslo Symphony Orchestra – 1998 –KKCD 1-98
“Messias” – Händel – Symfonietta Arctica – 2013 – ClassicO 2013
AWARDS
1 st Prize –Kammeroper Schloß Rheinsberg international singing competition (1999/2000)
2 nd prize – CCO international singing competition, New York, 2006.
3 rd prize – LYRA International Singing Competition, New York 2018
3 rd prize – Concorso lirico –strumentale di Citta di Pistoia 1998
Audience favorite award, Görlitz 2002/3