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The Austrian tenor, Bernd Oliver Fröhlich, initially studied classical saxophone at the conservatory in his hometown Innsbruck. He continued studies of leading jazz saxophone, singing and vocal pedagogy at the Musikhochschule in Vienna. He closed his academic path in 1997 with the Master of Music degree in Princeton (USA ).
In the following years, first as a freelance singer followed a dozen opera productions with clear contemporary focus. At the same time his concert activity led the tenor to intensive study of early music. This has since played the central role in his engagements at home and abroad. He has performed with some of the world's leading ensembles and conductors in the field such as Jordi Savall, Philippe Herreweghe and René Clemencic.
Since 2003 Bernd Fröhlich is a permanent member of the Belgian Huelgas Ensemble under the direction of Paul van Nevel. Numerous radio recordings and award-winning CD recordings for Harmonia Mundi and Sony Classical are evidence of this fruitful cooperation. Since 2009 Frhlich is connected with the Ensemble Weser Renaissance Bremen under the direction of Manfred Cordes, working closely with numerous concerts and CD recordings for CPO. In the field of contemporary music, he performs regularly with Colin Mason and his Vokalensemble Nova (Bregenzer Festspiele, Theater an der Wien... ).
At the same time the saxophone remains an indispensable part of Bernd Fröhlich’s musical work. Countless concerts and recordings of recent years reflect a wide spectrum: traditional jazz bands, commissioned works by contemporary composers, and not least his exquisite entertainment band Bernd Fröhlich Orchester.
For some time, Bernd Fröhlich is working hard to connect his two instruments and the associated convergence of different musical worlds. Founded by him and Joel Frederiksen, Ensemble La Terza Prattica combines a capella singing, Renaissance lute and soprano saxophone, from strictly structured polyphony and free improvisation. Another chapter in this search for new sounds is a joint project with the organist Louis Lussier, which can collide with Baroque soundscapes avant-garde approaches. |
