Henning von Schulman

Bass

Henning von Schulman is trained at the Opera Academy in Copenhagen and has been a member of the ensemble since graduating in 2013. Here he has performed, among other roles, the title role in The Marriage of Figaro, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, and Leporello in Don Giovanni by Mozart, Banquo in Verdi’s Macbeth, Colline in Puccini’s La bohème, as well as a number of smaller roles. He has also guest performed as Sarastro in the Oslo Opera’s successful production directed by Alexander Mørk-Eidem. In Germany, Henning has sung Raimondo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and stepped in as Figaro for the premiere of The Marriage of Figaro in Malmö.

With his broad vocal repertoire, he has also presented several concert programs, including Schubert’s Winterreise and his personal favourite, Songs and Dances of Death by Mussorgsky. In addition, he has achieved success in competitions, winning second prize at the Wilhelm Stenhammar Competition in Norrköping in 2014 and first prize at the Otto Edelmann Competition in Vienna in 2013, and was awarded the 2016 Birgit Nilsson Scholarship.

What is your best cultural experience in Denmark?
It is probably between Richard III with Søren Sætter-Lassen at Skuespilhuset and a Christmas concert with the Schwanzen Sänger Knaben. It is difficult to compare the two—as long as it is good, the genre does not matter. Tragedy, barbershop, or opera for that matter—everything can provide an exceptional experience.

Why is an opera not among your favorites?
Opera feels like my everyday life… which I love, but it makes it difficult to choose a favorite.

Do you have any role models?
Vocally, Nicolai Ghiaurov, and musically, Kurt Moll. Unfortunately, both have stopped singing. Classical music should be experienced live! A recording can be beautiful, but it does not impact you the same way as real instruments in a real space. So in fact, I cannot truly know whether they are as good as I think.