Thomas Quasthoff
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Image:Quasthoff1.jpg The German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff (born in Hildesheim, Germany on November 9, 1959) is generally regarded as one of the finest lieder singers of his generation.
Thomas Quasthoff records for Deutsche Grammophon and in 2001 won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for his performance with Anne Sofie von Otter and the Berlin Philharmonic of Mahler’s Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn". He won the award again in 2004 for Schubert: Lieder with Orchestra with von Otter, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Claudio Abbado. Additionally, his recordings of Brahms, Liszt and Schubert songs with pianist Justus Zeyen were nominated for the award in 2000 and 2001.
Quasthoff was born with serious birth defects caused by his mother's use of the morning sickness drug Thalidomide. He stands four feet tall on stunted legs, and has vestigial arms, his hands extending below his shoulders. Quasthoff was denied admission to the music conservatory in Hanover due to his physical inability to play the piano. He chose to study privately. His music career was launched in 1988 when he won an important competition in Munich, earning praise from baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. In 2003, he made his staged operatic debut as Don Fernando in Simon Rattle's Beethoven's Fidelio at the Salzburg Festival. His San Francisco Symphony debut took place September 2004.
Quasthoff is a full-time voice professor and performs only about 50 times a year. He also sings jazz. Prior to his music profession, he worked six years as a radio announcer for NDR.