Markus Werba

Markus Werba was born in Kärtnen, Austria. He is now regarded as one of the leading baritones of his generation. He has sung a wide range of roles including Papageno in Mozart's Magic Flute with the Vienna Volksoper and in the Mozart Festival in Vienna, Zurich Opera, Sao Carlo Lisbon, Komische Oper Berlin, Opéra Bastille Paris, Theatre du Capitole Toulouse, Teatro Comunale Bologna, Teatro Massimo Palermo, Cagliari, Naples, Genova, Lyon and in Ferrara and Baden-Baden with Claudio Abbado; and the title role in Don Giovanni in Palermo and Olivier in Strauss' Capriccio in Cagliari and La Fenice Venice. He has also sung Froila in Schubert's Alsonso und Estrella, the title role in Hans Heiling and Figaro in The Barber of Seville in Cagliari and Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Opera de Lyon. In 2005 he had a great success as Papageno in The Magic Flute with Riccardo Muti for his debut at the Salzburg Festival.

During the 2005/06season he sang Guglielmo in Così fan tutte in Lyon with William Christie, made his debut at La Scala Milan as Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos with Jeffrey Tate, returned to the Salzburg Festival for Nardo in La Finta Giardiniera conducted by Ivor Bolton and Papageno The Magic Flute with Muti.

2007 engagements include Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos in Bolzano and Lucca, his debut as Mercurio in La Calisto with the Bayerische Staatsoper München, Brahms Requiem with Gelmetti and the Sydney Symwphony Orchestra, Wiedehopf in Braunfels' Die Vögel in Cagliari, and Il Conte in The Marriage of Figaro with William Christie in Lyon. He also sang in Haydn's Schoepfung at the Aix en Provence Festival with Christie which was also recorded for Virgin Classics.

Future engagements include Giorgino in an new production of Paisiello's "Il Matrimonio Inaspettato with Muti at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, Papageno in Zauberfloete with Muti at the Salzburg Festival and his debut at the Royal Opera House as Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos and Mercurio in La Calisto, Covent Garden.

In 2009 he will make his US debut as Papageno with the Los Angeles Opera conducted by Conlon.

Markus Werba has an extensive recital and concert career and has given recitals in the Wigmore Hall for the BBC and in the Musikverein Vienna.