About
Biografie
The german-turkish mezzo-soprano Denise Seyhan was born in Hückeswagen, Germany. In 2004, she graduated in classical vocal studies at Musikhochschule Karlsruhe, and continued private studies with Gabriele Kniesel (Musikhochschule Freiburg) afterwards. Since 2009, her voice teachers have been baritone Walter Donati (member of Badische Staatstheater Karlsruhe for many years) and his wife, the italian soprano Anna Rita Esposito who taught her in italian belcanto technique. Currently she is working with the american theater coach Margaret Singer and additionally as of late with the italian theater coach Alessandro Pratico. Denise Seyhan further enriched her technique in masterclasses with Alexia Voulgaridou, Alessandro Amoretti, Kleesie Kelly, Ingeborg Most and Anna Reynolds. She finished her degree as a soprano, but changed to mezzo-soprano in 2006. Beforehand she made her first debuts on the opera stage in the roles of »Pamina« and »First Lady« as an ensemble member of the »Junge Kammeroper Köln« for two years.
Since 2008, she began to sing important mezzo-soprano repertoire like »Dorabella« and »Hänsel« in various independent productions. Finally in 2013, Denise Seyhan was invited to sing the female lead part in the world premiere of the opera »Konrad oder Das Kind aus der Konservenbüchse« by Gisbert Näther at the Musiktheater Gelsenkirchen. After that successful production, she was again engaged in spring 2014 from the theatre in Gelsenkirchen to sing the first recording of Georg Pelecis’ composition »In Honour of Henry Purcell« for chamber orchestra and three counter-tenors. During May 2014 she sang the roles of »Sorceress« and »Second Witch« of »Dido and Aeneas« by Henry Purcell in an operatic concert in Kaiserslautern. In 2015, she performed »3rd wood sprite« of Dvorak’s opera »Rusalka« at the Stadttheater Pforzheim. During 2016, she was acting as »Birsen Güner« in »Gegen die Wand«, an opera composed by Ludger Vollmer in 2008, at the Stadttheater Gießen. In summer 2017, she has made her debut as »Ulrica« in »Un ballo in maschera« by Verdi in the summerproduction of »Kammeroper Frankfurt«. Moving more to the dramatic mezzo-soprano fach she sang »Amneris« and »Fricka« (»Walkyrie«) in Munich in 2018. At the Stadttheater Heidelberg she performed the role of »Dora K.« in »Benjamin« by Peter Ruzicka, conducted by Elias Grandy in 2019 (Worldpremiere at Hamburg State Opera in June 2018) and directed by Ingo Kerkhof. In 2020, Denise Seyhan was a finalist of »Prix Atelier d’exellence« specializing in italian opera and a semi-finalist of NYIOP singing competition. In the Wagner category of the 2018 »NuovoCanto« singing competition in Milan, Italy, she was a semi-finalist as well.
Apart from her operatic career she appears at concerts venues in Germany and abroad. During summer of 2012 for example, she was singing the alto-part of the »Symphony No. 9« by Beethoven at the Reims Cathedral/France at the festival »Les Flaneries Musicales de Reims«. 2010, she went on tour with the »Westsächsische Symphonieorchester« in Mexico. Other concert repertoire include the »Messiah« by Händel, »Stabat Mater« by Pergolesi and by Dvořák, and »Paulus« by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy also helped grow her repertoire in the last few years. Future release of the »Liebeslieder« and »Neue Liebeslieder« by Brahms is planned with Naxos.
Together with her pianist partner Heike Bleckmann she performs various Lied recitals and concerts, which are moderated by Bleckmann and inspired by specific themes and personalities.
Duo Bleckmann & Seyhan
Together with the pianist Heike Bleckmann, Denise Seyhan sings diverse recitals. In 2011, the two musicians met each other on a benefice gala, and decided to work together as duo partners afterwards. Heike Bleckmann was born in Wesel, and studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe. After she has finished her studies with a diploma in major piano, she continued her musical education in the U.S.A. with Menahem Pressler, which was funded by a scholarship of the Adamant Music School. She attended numerous masterclasses by Edith Picht-Axenfeld, Vlado Perlemuter, Helena Costa, and Bernard Roberts.
The pianist performs a wide range of concert activities, both as a soloist, and also as a chamber musician with several ensembles, e.g. the „12 pianists“. But most of all, she marvellously accompanies Lied recitals. Her activities concentrate on organizing and performing thematic concerts with lectured recitals, and concerts. As a soloist and a duo partner of Denise Seyhan, she ascertains, thereby, a connection between literature, history, and music. One of her main interests are the life and works of female composers.