Baritone Thomas Johannes Mayer has passed away

We are deeply saddened by the news that the German baritone Thomas Johannes Mayer has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 56. His repertoire ranged from Verdi to Strauss, Hindemith and Berg, but he made his greatest impact with his interpretations of Wagner roles. He distinguished himself through the way he combined an exceptionally precise treatment of the text with impressive vocal power and dramatic depth. He performed on several occasions with Dutch National Opera. His portrayal of Wotan in Pierre Audi’s production of Der Ring des Nibelungen in the 2013–2014 season was unforgettable, marked by the perfect balance between arrogance and compassion that Mayer brought to the role. Ten years later, in 2023, he returned twice to Amsterdam for a menacing, malevolent portrayal of Telramund (Lohengrin) and a Dreieinigkeitsmoses in Kurt Weill’s Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, performed with visible pleasure. His extraordinary talent and charisma will be greatly missed.

Photo: Thomas Johannes Mayer in Wagner’s Das Rheingold (staged by Pierre Audi), November 2012