Hungarian bass Christian Cher to participate for the third time in the Sofia Opera Wagner festival. He will perform the role of the Wanderer in “Siegfried”: the third part of “Der Ring des Nibelungen”.

Christian grew up in a family of musicians, his father was a conductor. One of his brightest childhood memories is his father playing the piano. Despite the love for music he shares with his parents, he began studying physics in his hometown of Szeged and began working as a postgraduate at the biophysics institute of the biological research center in Szeged. Only after did he graduate from the Music college in Szeged, and later: from the “List” Music academy in Budapest where he worked with the famous Hungarian opera singer Eva Marton.

He debuted in the role of Don Magnifico in “Cinderella” by Rossini in Spoleto, Italy; his first main role was that of Pomade at the Hungarian national opera (“King Pomade’s new clothes” by Hungarian composer György Ránki).

Throughout the years, his signature role became the main one in “The Castle of Duke Blue Beard” by Bella Bartok. In 2019, he performed the role of Blue Beard with the Budapest festival orchestra under the conductorship of Ivan Fischer at Carnegie Hall, New York. He was acknowledged by the audience, performing the same piece in Hamburg, Paris and Luxembourg. He debuted as Wotan in “Das Rheingold” by Wagner and as Don Pizarro in “Fidelio” by Beethoven at the Opera in Kemnitz. In the autumn of 2019, he performed the role of Wotan in Mexico City.

Christian Cher’s repertoire consists of more than eighty roles in sixty operas. He most often performs in operas by Mozart, Verdi, Wagner and Bartok.

Immediately after the performances of “La Gioconda” in Budapest during June, he gave a short interview for the Sofia Opera.

Why did you trade physics for singing? What sparked your interest in singing?

I felt I was more talented at singing, I was encouraged to do it more and I was attracted by the audience’s love.

Can physics explain music in any way?

A part of it, yes, it’s called phonology. However, you can’t explain the true essence of music, physics just possesses a different ensemble of instruments.

Do you remember when you first went out on stage? What did you perform?

It must have happened during one of the music contests at my university. While I studied physics, I performed as Zarastro in “Die Zauberflöte” by Mozart; my first ever role was that of the Notary in “Gianni Schicchi” by Puccini.

When do you accept and when do you turn down a role?

It mostly depends on my workload at the time and the ability for me to join a project. I rarely get offers I’m not interested in or thrilled by. The conductor and the theater: these two are always important so I was glad to visit the Sofia Opera and Ballet.

Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Hungarian composers: which of them do you prefer and why?

My taste changed throughout the years. I started loving Wagner more and more, of course, but the rest are also important and a constant part of my life.

What do you like about the Sofia “Der Ring des Nibelungen”?

The conductor, the colleagues on stage and the directorship.

You perform a lot in Hungary and abroad. What’s different about the Sofia Opera?

The fellow artists here are very open and welcoming, they treat me with kindness and I always feel like I’m coming back home.

What role do you dream of performing?

Wotan in “Die Walküre” and King Philip II in “Don Carlos”.

How do you see the world of opera today? What is the future of this artform?

There are many people interested in opera. We must educate the audience and invest in the future but the virtues which the art of opera stands for will never be forgotten.

What kind of a person are you?

A complex and stubborn one.

What do you do in your free time?

I like doing sports, cooking, wine tasting and going to escape rooms.

What kind of books and movies do you prefer?

I like books and movies which really make you think.

Tell us one thing the audience doesn’t know about you?

I’m sure there are some things about me which will remain a secret.

The audience should visit the Wagner festival because…

Because of the monumental productions and Wagner’s grandiose score which takes viewers to a whole new world.