Famed German bass-baritone ends singing career

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2006 file photo bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff receives the European Culture Award at the Church of Our Lady cathedral in Dresden, eastern Germany. Quasthoff has announced he is ending his singing career after nearly 40 years due to health issues. He does not go into specifics. But in a statement from his agent forwarded Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 to the Vienna office of the Associated Press, he says "my health no longer allows me to live up the high standard that I have always set for my art and myself." (AP Photo/Peer Grimm, Pool)

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2009 file photo German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff listens to a speech during an award ceremony in Vienna, Austria. Quasthoff has announced he is ending his singing career after nearly 40 years due to health issues. He does not go into specifics. But in a statement from his agent forwarded Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012 to the Vienna office of the Associated Press, he says "my health no longer allows me to live up the high standard that I have always set for my art and myself." (AP Photo/Lilli Strauss, File)

The Associated Press Updated 10:11 AM Thursday, January 12, 2012

VIENNA — German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff has announced he is ending his singing career after nearly 40 years due to health issues.

Quasthoff did not go into specifics. But in a statement from his agent forwarded Thursday to the Vienna office of the Associated Press, he said "my health no longer allows me to live up the high standard that I have always set for my art and myself."

Quasthoff says he will continue teaching and other activities linked to his craft.

Quasthoff appeared on top-ranked stages and performed under Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Christoph Eschenbach, James Levine, Mariss Jansons, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti and other famed conductors.

After making his mark as a Lied singer, he took up opera in 2003, singing the minister from Beethoven's "Fidelio" at the Salzburg Easter Festival and following the year after with a performance as Amfortas from Wagner's "Parsifal" at the Vienna State Opera.

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January 12, 2012 03:04 PM EST

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