Klaus Mertens & Gitti Pirner
Biography Klaus Mertens & Gitti Pirner
Klaus Mertens
studied under Professor Else Bischof-Bornes and Professor Jakon Stämpfi (Lieder, concert singing, and oratorio) as well as under Peter Massmann (opera). Right after his final degree, his impressive career started at home and abroad as a much sought after performer, especially of the baroque oratorio literature. His repertoire has long since run the whole gamut of lieder, oratorio, and concerts, from Monteverdi right up to contemporary composers, some of whom even dedicate their compositions to him. His catalogue of record- ings, which number around one hundred and fifty five CDs and DVDs, together with radio and television recordings is a testament to his competence and versatility as a singer. Klaus Mer- tens has worked in close cooperation with FARAO classics since the year 2000.
Gitti Pirner
studied in Munich, Rome and Geneva under Erik Then-Berg, Guido Agostini and Louis Hiltbrand. She ascribes her great musical and artistic incentive to her studies with Wilhelm Kempff, who said of her that music was a natural calling for her. International concert appearances followed, in which she performed with numerous important orchestras and conductors such as Sergiu Celibidache, Kurt Eichhorn, Enoch zu Guttenberg, Helmuth Rilling, Rudolf Kempe and Franz Welser-Möst. In addition to her solo activities, she regularly appears as an accompanist of Lieder and as a partner in chamber music ensembles. Gitti Pirner is director of a masterclass at the Musikhochschule in Munich, in addition to which she is in demand as a juror at various music competitions.
