Lutz-Michael Harder

Lutz-Michael Harder (born 1951, Langenfeld/Długoszyn near Küstrin) is a German lyric tenor known mostly for his interpretation of Mozart opera roles and as a baroque concert soloist.

Biography

Harder made his operatic debut in 1975 at the Eutin Festival (see: Eutiner Festspiele) as Ferrando in Mozart's Così fan tutte. He became a member of the National Theatre of Oldenburg for a year and then a member of the National Theatre of Hannover where he stayed for several years. In 1978, he sang Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni at the Festival of Ludwigsburg. In 1985, he starred as Hans Scholl in the world premiere of the second version of Udo Zimmermann’s Weisse Rose at the Hamburg State Opera, a role which he reprised and recorded two years later at the Vienna State Opera. He went on to perform several roles in major houses throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland appearing mainly in the works of Mozart. He has also had a prolific concert singing career, particularly as a Bach interpreter. In addition to recording Hans Scholl, Harder has recorded the role of Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the title role in Handel's Jephtha, and several Bach cantatas among others.