Damien Gastl
The youthful, vital baritone left a lasting impression on the Styriarte audience at his brilliant "Don Giovanni" debut in 2020. Only a little later, in autumn 2020, he made the leap into the opera studio ensemble of his hometown of Strasbourg. In addition, the young Frenchman has already made guest appearances in oratorio productions by renowned German orchestras.
About the artist
VITAL YOUNG BARITONE FROM FRANCE
Beginning
Born in Strasbourg, Damien Gastl was awarded a Bachelor-of-Arts-Diploma in his hometown before pursuing further studies at the Music University of Dresden (in the vocal-class of Christiane Junghanns and the Lied-class of Olaf Bär). He also holds a Master of Opera from the August-Everding-Theaterakademie in Munich (in the vocal-class of Christiane Iven). in 2021, he was awarded a scholarship by the Richard Wagner Circle in Strasbourg as well as prize-winner of the Concours International de Chant de Marmande (Prix OFQJ - Théâtre Lyrichoregra 20).
On Stage
Damien Gastl made his stage-debut in 2014 performing the role of Pierrot in Gluck’s opera Merlin’s Island, a German-French co-production for the 250th anniversary of the Academy of fine arts in Dresden. Subsequently he appeared in Don Carlo (a Flemish deputy) as well as in various staged productions of the Dresden University (Simon in Treemonisha, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte). He also joined a concert-performance of L’Ancêtre by Saint-Saëns with the Munich Radio Orchestra at the Prinzregententheater.
In 2020 he performed the title-role in a semi-stagesdversion of Don Giovanni at Styriarte in Graz where he was reinvited in 2021 for a concert performance of Orff's Carmina Burana. From 2020 through 2022 he was a member of the Opera Studio of the Opéra national du Rhin and took part at the Opéra du Rhin in the productions of Samson et Dalila (2ème philistin), Madama Butterfly (Prince Yamadori), Hänsel und Gretel (der Vater) and L'Enfant et les sortilèges (L'horloge comtoise, Le chat).
Engagements
In 2022 Damien Gastl also performed Frederic (Lakmé) at the Nuits lyriques in Marmande. He subsequently appeared at the Opéra du Rhin (Der Schatzgräber by Schreker) and made his debut at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse (Melot in Tristan und Isolde).
The 2023/24 season was highlighted by his debut in the role of Conte Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) at the Nordhausen Theatre as well as the role of Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) in a touring production of the Théâtre du Capitole. Further plans include appearances at the Opéra national du Rhin, at the Théâtre du Capitole and at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.
On concert-stage, Damien Gastl has recently sung Bach’s St. Matthew Passion (Petrus) with the Dresden Baroque-Orchestra, St. John’s Passion (Jesus) with the Batzdorf Hofkapelle and the Chamber-choir of the Dresden Vocal Academy, Elias with the Orchestra of the Elbland Philharmony Saxony, Beethoven's Symphony Nr. 9 in Stuttgart and Strasbourg as well as Mozart's Coronation Mass, Beethoven's Cantata on the death of Emperor Joseph II at Styriarte (Austria). He also performed Haydn's Nelson-Messe and Mozart's Great Mass in c-minor with the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse.
Guest at house Styriarte
At the styriarte 2020 he performed the title role in the production "Don Giovanni in Nöten" under the direction of Michael Hofstetter, and in 2021 he took part in the concert performance of Orff's Carmina Burana. In 2023 he sang Beethoven's cantata on the death of Emperor Joseph II under Michael Hofstetter in the Stainz parish church and at the Styriarte 2024 he appeared on stage with the Zefiro Baroque Orchestra under Alfredo Bernardini in ‘Die Macht der Musik’.
