Short CV
Short biography 2025
Michael Wagner BASS
In the 2025/26 season at the Neues Linzer Musiktheater, he can be heard as
Ochs von Lerchenau in R. Strauss' “Der Rosenkavalier,” as village judge Adam
in V. Ullmann's “Der zerbrochene Krug” (The Broken Jug), and in the title role in G.
Donizetti's “Don Pasquale.” At the beginning of the season, he appeared in the acclaimed
production of Viktor Ullmann's “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” at the Ars
electronica Festival in the role of Death.
Nominated in 2023 for the Austrian Music Theater Award for Best Male Lead for his role as Gurnemanz in Richard Wagner's Parsifal in Linz
(conductor: Markus Poschner/director: Stephan Suschke). Born in
the Mostviertel region of Lower Austria. Studied with Ks Brigitte Fassbaender,
master classes with Ks Walter Berry, Kai Wessel, and Ks Robert Holl.
Vocal lessons with Ks Artur Korn. 2004 to 2007 ensemble member at the Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck. After that, worked internationally as a freelancer. Since 2013 guest and since 2015/16
permanent ensemble member at the Neues Musiktheater Linz. To date, he has embodied
around 80 stage roles. His career to date has led him to work in
the field of directing with Ks Brigitte Fassbaender, Kobie van Rensburg,
Robert Meyer, Johannes Erath, Rainer Mennicken, Francois des Carpentris,
David Bösch, and Hermann Schneider.
In the 10th anniversary production of the “Neues Linzer Musiktheater,” he made his acclaimed role debut as Hans Sachs
in Richard Wagner's “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.”
Musical collaboration with well-known conductors such as Franz Bauer-Theussl, Walter Kobera, Dietfried Bernet, Sascha Goetzel, Ralf Weikert, Wolfgang Katschner, Franz Welser-Möst, Michi Gaigg, Dennis Russel Davis, Leslie Suganandaraja, Enrico Calesso and Markus Poschner. Born in Wolfsbach in Mostviertel, Lower Austria. Studies with Ks Brigitte Fassbaender, master classes with Ks Walter Berry, Kai Wessel and Ks Robert Holl. Singing lessons with Ks Artur Korn. 2004 to 2007 member of the ensemble at the Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck. Afterwards he worked internationally as a freelancer. Guest since 2013 and permanent ensemble member at the New Music Theater Linz since 2015/16. To date, he has played around 80 stage roles. His previous directing career has brought him together with Ks Brigitte Fassbaender, Kobie van Rensburg, Robert Meyer, Johannes Erath, Rainer Mennicken, Robert Wilson, La fura dels baus, Francois des Carpentris and Hermann Schneider.
Michael Wagner worked in the concert sector with the Brucknerorchester Linz, the Niederösterreichischen Tonkunstler Orchestra, the Concilium Musicum, LÁrpeggione, the LÓrfeo-Barockorchester (new CD release in 2023 with Joseph Haydn's "L'incontro improvviso" at CPO), the Harmonices Mundi, the Austrian Salonisten , the Waidhofen Chamber Orchestra, the Johann Strauss Ensemble, the Vienna Academy and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. In November 2024 collaboration with Dennis Russel Davies and the Brno Filharmonie (G. Mahler: The Lamenting Song). In October 2025 he can be heard in Beethovens Missa solemnis at the Brucknerhaus in Linz.