Philanthropist, teacher, soloist, opera star -- we've tried to pigeonhole Thomas Hampson, but it's impossible. Onstage, the versatile American baritone melts into Lied recitals + American song + Verdi bada$$ baritones (he just finished Iago at The Met) while offstage, he's devoted to foundation work like his Hampsong Foundation + Song of America + the Heidelberg Lied Academy, which is now two days into its 3rd annual seminar. In addition to nurturing young singers, artistic director Hampson invites seasoned collaborators (such as Thomas Quasthoff this year) and accompanists for two weeks of intense masterclasses, lectures and performances to nurture the Lied arts.
We saw Hampson at La Scala in 2011 for a well-studied, deeply curious exploration of Schubert, Liszt and Mahler Songs. As an artist who understands the literature & culture behind classic German Lieder, it's very cool that he's livestreaming today's masterclass.