Barihunks Calendar Model Profile: Malte Roesner

Malte Roesner

Barihunk Malte Roesner only came to our attention about 10 months ago, but we instantly realized that he was a pretty special artist and human being. That belief was confirmed when he showed up this summer in the Loire Valley for our Barihunks Calendar photo shoot.

Not only is he an absolute natural in front of the camera, but he is as intelligent as he is charming and attractive. He is an avid reader who reads science and medical periodicals in his spare time, can discuss almost any topic with great insight, and translates librettos on the side. He recently starred in Jake Heggie's Holocaust themed opera For a Look or a Touch in Braunschweig, for which he also did the translation.

He also balances his mind and his body, practicing martial arts and yoga, as well as staying in shape with kettle bell training. 

Malte Roesner

Roesner began his musical education when he was five years old and took violin lessons. He performed with the Hanover Boy’s Choir in Germany, before continuing his studies at the University of Hamburg and at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, where he majored in both musicology and in opera performance. He was awarded scholarships from both the German National Academic Foundation and the Richard-Wagner-Foundation.

Roesner, who is German but born in America, has recently decided to move to Vienna and pursue and independent career after being a member of the ensemble at the Staatstheatre Braunschweig since 2006. He'll be returning to Braunschweig next season to sing in the revival of Werner Egk's Peer Gynt and in the new production of Jonathan Dove's Mansfield Park. In the latter, he will be singing the male lead Edmund in his own translation.

During his time at the Staatstheatre Braunschweig he performed more than fifty roles. In addition to most of the major baritone Mozart roles, his operatic repertoire includes Enrico in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Pasquale in Haydn’s Orlando Paladino, Ping in Puccini's Turandot, Schaunard in Puccini's La Bohème and Sharpless in Puccini's Madama Butterfly, Dr. Falke in Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Paolo in Simone Boccanegra, Heerrufer in Lohengrin, Masaniello in the German premiere of Carlos Gomes’ Salvator Rosa and in the world premiere of the operatic version of Schnitzler’s Traumnovelle.

Malte Roesner is featured on the cover, as well as in January, June & December

Roesner is the most featured calendar model this year, appearing on our cover, as well as in January, June and December. This year's calendar will fund the creation of the Foundation for the Advancement of Baritones (F.A.B.), which will fund programs to benefit baritones and basses. FAB will commission new music, provide prize money for vocal competitions and financially support other endeavors promoting the baritone and bass voice. Composer Clint Borzoni is working on the first commission, which are two songs for baritone and string quartet based on poems by Hermann Hesse and Hilde Domin.

"I'm pleased to be part of a project that will fund the creation of FAB, which will actively support select young singers beyond the significant promotional value of Barihunks," stated Malte Roesner.

ORDER YOUR BARIHUNKS CHARITY CALENDAR NOW!!!

Malte Roesner's beautiful photos from Heggie opera

Malte Roesner, Markus Schneider (Photo © Volker Beinhorn)

Last month, we posted about barihunk Malte Roesner starring in the German language premiere of Jake Heggie's chamber opera For a Look or a Touch at the Staatstheater Braunschweig opening on May 2nd. We finally have some pictures of Roesner from the show.

Based on the true story of two teenage lovers that the Holocaust tore apart forever, the dramatic song cycle For a Look or a Touch casts light on the fate of gay Germans in the Holocaust. The libretto, written by Heggie's frequent collaborator Gene Scheer, juxtaposes the exuberant freedom of pre-World War II Berlin with the brutal Nazi horrors that followed, while making an impassioned plea for remembrance.

Malte Roesner, Markus Schneider (Photo © Volker Beinhorn)

Coming out of retirement to portray Gad Beck, an eighty year old gay survivor of the Holocaust, is famed German actor Jost Leers.  Gad Beck is an 80-year-old survivor of the Holocaust who is haunted by the memories of his first love Manfred, who died in a concentration camp at age 19.

The piece will be performed along with Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Another Sunrise, a 17-minute music drama performed by chamber quintet and soprano. The two Heggie pieces with be performed with  Ilse, the story Ilse Koch, the wife of a camp commandant at Buchenwald, with text taken from the original trials.

Malte Roesner in For a Look or a Touch (Photo © Volker Beinhorn)

There are additional performances of For a Look or a Touch on May 7, 16, 23 and June 14, 24, 28. You can also catch Roesner at the Staatstheater Braunschweig in Werner Egk's operatic version of Peer Gynt opening on May 17 and running through June 13. In July, he sings the role of Silvano at the theater in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera, which opens on June 28 and running through July 20. Luca Grassi sings the role of Renato.

Malte Roesner to star in German adaptation of Heggie opera

Barihunk Malte Roesner and actor Joost Leers

Barihunk Malte Roesner will be performing in the German language premiere of Jake Heggie's chamber opera For a Look or a Touch at the Staatstheater Braunschweig opening on May 2nd.

Based on the true story of two teenage lovers that the Holocaust tore apart forever, the dramatic song cycle For a Look or a Touch casts light on the fate of gay Germans in the Holocaust. The libretto, written by Heggie's frequent collaborator Gene Scheer, juxtaposes the exuberant freedom of pre-World War II Berlin with the brutal Nazi horrors that followed, while making an impassioned plea for remembrance.

Coming out of retirement to portray Gad Beck, an eighty year old gay survivor of the Holocaust, is famed German actor Jost Leers.  Gad Beck is an 80-year-old survivor of the Holocaust who is haunted by the memories of his first love Manfred, who died in a concentration camp at age 19.

The piece will be performed along with Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Another Sunrise, a 17-minute music drama performed by chamber quintet and soprano. The two Heggie pieces with be performed with  Ilse, the story Ilse Koch, the wife of a camp commandant at Buchenwald, with text taken from the original trials.