Artists
International artists come together for this special performance at Carnegie Hall of Carmina Burana, combined with a vibrant tribute to the elegance and charm of the legendary Comedian Harmonists.
Conductor
Andrea Fessmann
Conductor & Artistic Director
Renowned for her dynamic leadership in large-scale choral works, Andrea Fessmann brings together international performers for this special Carnegie Hall project.
German conductor and singer Andrea Fessmann is widely recognized for her dedication to choral music and her ability to unite large vocal ensembles in powerful and engaging performances. A long-time member of the Bavarian Radio Choir, she has worked with many of the world’s leading conductors while maintaining an active career as a conductor, educator, and cultural organizer.
Fessmann studied voice and conducting at the University of Music and Theatre Munich and later joined the faculty as a teacher of the Alexander Technique. She has directed numerous performances of major choral works including St. Matthew Passion, Requiem, Messiah, and Carmina Burana.
She is also the founder and artistic director of several cultural initiatives in Bavaria, including the KlangKunst Choir and the Iffeldorf Master Concert Series. In recognition of her exceptional cultural engagement, Andrea Fessmann received the prestigious Tassilo Prize, awarded by Germany’s leading newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Choirs
Large choral forces bring Carmina Burana to life.
Bavarian Carmina Choir
An impressive choral ensemble dedicated to the monumental works of the classical repertoire, with a particular focus on Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
The Bavarian Carmina Choir brings together singers from across Bavaria who share a passion for the great choral masterpieces of the classical tradition. Under the artistic direction of Andrea Fessmann, the choir performs large-scale works such as St. Matthew Passion, Requiem, and A German Requiem.
Particularly renowned for its performances of Carmina Burana, the choir combines powerful choral sound with a vibrant stage presence. For the Carnegie Hall performance, the ensemble appears in traditional Bavarian attire, creating a visually striking and culturally authentic interpretation of Orff’s celebrated work.
VOENA Children’s Choir
One of the most celebrated youth choirs in the United States, known for its vibrant performances and international collaborations.
The VOENA Children’s Choir, directed by Annabelle Marie, is an internationally acclaimed youth ensemble recognized for its energetic performances and artistic excellence. The choir has appeared at prestigious venues around the world and collaborates regularly with leading orchestras and artists.
VOENA’s performances emphasize both musical excellence and cultural exchange, inspiring young singers to explore diverse musical traditions while sharing the joy of choral music with audiences across the globe.
Soloists
Featured soloists in Carmina Burana
Mithra Mastropierro — Soprano
American soprano Mithra Mastropierro is an expressive artist known for her powerful interpretations of major operatic and concert repertoire. She has performed with companies including The Dallas Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and appears regularly with Queen City Opera and the Croatian National Theatre and in Italy as well.
Her operatic repertoire includes roles such as Norma, Abigaille (Nabucco), Tosca, Brünnhilde (Siegfried), Sieglinde (Die Walküre), Leonore (Fidelio), Mimì (La bohème) and many more.
A highly regarded concert soloist, Mastropierro regularly performs with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, including Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, and in excerpts from Die Walküre. She has also appeared as a soloist in major works such as Rossini’s Stabat Mater and Dvořák’s Te Deum in the US and Italy.
She is a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including the Olga Forrai Foundation for large dramatic voices and the Gerda Lissner Foundation.
For this performance at Carnegie Hall, she appears as the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana.
Manuel Ried — Tenor
In this concert Manuel Ried appears as the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana and as a member of the Munich Harmonists. His full biography can be found below.
Manuel Adt — Baritone
In this concert Manuel Aadt appears as the baritone soloist in Carmina Burana and as a member of the Munich Harmonists. His full biography can be found below.
The Munich Harmonists
Reviving the elegance, charm, and musical brilliance of the legendary Comedian Harmonists.
The Munich Harmonists are a vocal ensemble dedicated to the timeless close-harmony tradition of the 1920s and 1930s. Consisting of five vocal soloists and pianist Manfred Manhart, the ensemble recreates the unmistakable sound and atmosphere of this unique musical style.
Their programs feature beloved classics such as Mein kleiner grüner Kaktus, Veronika, der Lenz ist da, and Irgendwo auf der Welt, performed with refined musicianship, humor, and theatrical charm.
Members of The Munich Harmonists
Manfred Stecher — Baritone
Manfred Stecher is the founder of The Munich Harmonists and a versatile performer whose career spans music, theatre, and film. He performs regularly with the ensemble in concerts and at renowned festivals both in Germany and internationally.
He studied voice and acting at the Mozarteum University Salzburg.
As a singer and actor, he has appeared on numerous international stages, including the Salzburg Festival, the Berlin Friedrichstadt-Palast, and major venues such as the Munich Olympiahalle, as well as at international events including the FIFA World Cup in Cape Town. His work has taken him to productions in music theatre, musical, and drama, collaborating with leading international directors.
He has performed with distinguished orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, and has been involved in recording projects with Deutsche Grammophon under August Everding.
For his portrayal of Harry Frommermann in The Comedian Harmonists, he was awarded the Merkur Prize in 2000.
In addition to his stage work, Stecher regularly appears in film and television productions.
Klaus Steppberger — Tenor
Klaus Steppberger is a tenor at home across a wide range of musical styles and genres. He trained in Munich, London, and Basel, studying baroque performance practice, opera, and song with renowned artists including Emma Kirkby and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
He gained extensive experience in ensemble singing with leading vocal groups such as the Kammerchor Stuttgart and Collegium Vocale Gent, and through his long-standing work with the Bavarian Radio Chorus, performing with many of the world’s leading conductors.
Alongside his classical work, Steppberger is deeply engaged in the tradition of early 20th-century popular music, appearing with salon and dance orchestras as well as in solo programs featuring songs of the 1920s and 30s. His operatic engagements have taken him to theaters across Germany, where he has appeared in numerous productions, including over one hundred performances as Ari Leschnikoff in Veronika, der Lenz ist da! – The Comedian Harmonists.
Manuel Ried — Tenor
Tenor Manuel Ried is a sought-after performer in both opera and concert. He has collaborated with ensembles such as the Bachcollegium Stuttgart, Lautten Compagney Berlin, and the Orchestre de Chambre Luxembourg, and has appeared in major concert venues including the Berlin Philharmonie and Munich’s Herkulessaal.
His engagements have taken him to opera houses and festivals across Germany, Austria, Italy, and beyond, including the Staatstheater Cottbus, Tiroler Landestheater, and Mozart festivals in Augsburg and Bad Reichenhall. His repertoire ranges from Baroque roles such as Oronte in Handel’s Alcina, to Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, as well as operetta roles like Camille in Lehár’s The Merry Widow.
Song recital is a central focus of his artistic work, with regular performances of major cycles including Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin, Beethoven’s An die ferne Geliebte, and Schumann’s Dichterliebe
Manuel Adt — Baritone
Manuel Aadt began his musical career as a cellist before turning to vocal studies, training in Munich and completing his degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts with top distinction in song interpretation.
A prizewinner of several competitions, he received the special prize for voice at the German Music Competition in 2018. He performs regularly as a soloist in oratorios and operas, with roles including Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro), Herr Fluth (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Junius (The Rape of Lucretia), and Dr. Falke (Die Fledermaus).
Aadt has appeared at venues such as the Bavarian State Opera, Staatstheater Nürnberg, and the Munich Biennale, and was a member of the Bavarian Radio Chorus from 2018 to 2020.
Micha Matthäus — Bass
Micha Matthäus is currently completing his Master’s degree in concert singing at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. A sought-after concert singer, he performs both nationally and internationally, with appearances in the 2025/26 season at venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Palau de la Música Catalana Barcelona, AMUZ Antwerp, and the Isarphilharmonie Munich.
He appears regularly in both concert and opera, with recent roles including Leporello (Don Giovanni), Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), and Betto (Gianni Schicchi). He has also performed at institutions such as the Bavarian State Opera and Staatstheater Augsburg, and toured Europe with Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.
Matthäus has worked with conductors including Claudio Vandelli and Ariel Zuckermann, and is a recipient of several scholarships, including Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now and the Richard Wagner Scholarship.
Manfred Manhart — Piano
