Biography
Since joining the ensemble of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2017, he has established himself in a wide-ranging repertoire that includes Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus), Schaunard (La Bohème), Fernando (Fidelio), Melot (Tristan und Isolde), The One-Eyed Man (Die Frau ohne Schatten), Barone di Trombonok (Il viaggio a Reims), Hofkapellmeister (Intermezzo) and Figaro (Il barbiere di Siviglia). A milestone in his career was his acclaimed debut as Sixtus Beckmesser in Wagner’s »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg«, directed by Jossi Wieler, Sergio Morabito and Anna Viebrock. He has also prepared the role of Alberich for Stefan Herheim’s new »Ring« production at the house.
Guest engagements have taken him to the Ópera de Tenerife, where he appeared as Don Estoban in Zemlinsky’s »Der Zwerg«, and to the Münchner Kammeroper, where he sang Mr. Slender in Salieri’s »Falstaff« and appeared in Dominik Wilgenbus’ opera pasticcio »Kaspar Hauser«.
An accomplished concert singer, he performs a broad repertoire ranging from the great oratorios and numerous cantatas of J. S. Bach to works such as Brahms’ »Ein deutsches Requiem«, Handel’s »Messiah«, Haydn’s »The Creation« and Mendelssohn’s »Elijah«.
Born in Dessau, Philipp Jekal began his vocal training with Marianne Kaiser at the local music school. He went on to study with KS Prof. Roland Schubert at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater »Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy« Leipzig, graduating with distinction in 2019 with a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance. As a scholarship holder, he studied at the Conservatory of Music in San Francisco with César Ulloa and at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala, where he made his debut at La Scala as the Speaker in Mozart’s »Die Zauberflöte«. He has also been supported by the Richard Wagner Association Leipzig in Bayreuth, was a prize winner at the Bundeswettbewerb Gesang in Berlin, and received the sponsorship award of the Walter and Charlotte Hamel Foundation.
He has gained further artistic inspiration in masterclasses with KS Brigitte Fassbaender, Prof. Thomas Quasthoff and Wolfram Rieger. As a Lied interpreter, he has worked with Prof. Phillip Moll and Prof. Alexander Schmalcz and was a scholarship holder of the Song Academy of the Heidelberger Frühling Festival, led by Thomas Hampson.