Great singers often talk about “vocal control,” a powerful word that would never come to mind in connection with Vladimir Kornéev. Rather, you feel an intense love affair here, the voice and Kornéev, that is freedom as well as the highest level of control. That was not always so. It was only at the age of 17, on the stage of a school gym in Augsburg, that he found himself and his voice in the lead role in Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Before that, he, the boy who fled Georgia with his parents, was burdened with violent trauma and plagued by a stutter. Today the actor, pianist and classically trained singer is one of the most exciting chansonniers in Europe.
This fall, the 36-year-old is coming to Munich with two of his celebrated programs. On Wednesday, October 25th, he will present his homage to Édith Piaf in the Prinzregententheater together with the Munich Radio Orchestra, in which he, never afraid of pathos, will lead you through the sometimes miserable life of the icon with lesser-known repertoire. The concert is also a bit of a homecoming, as he studied acting and singing at the August Everding Theater Academy.
Kurt Weill’s work, which he will interpret on November 14th in the Silver Hall of the Deutsches Theater, is tailor-made for Kornéev’s astonishing vocal range. The program is called “Youkali,” named after Weill’s play, written in exile, about a utopian country in which everyone can feel respected, loved and free. How much you want to go to this country.
“La vie en rose”, Vladimir Kornéev sings Édith Piaf, Wednesday, October 25th, 7:30 p.m., Prinzregententheater, tickets below www.br-ticket.de“Youkali”, Tuesday, November 14th, 8 p.m., Silver Hall of the German Theater, tickets below www.deutsches-theater.de