Marianne Schechtel

• -2024: pre-nomination for Deutscher Theaterpreis "Der Faust" for the role of Helene Alving in the world premiere of "Gespenster" (T.Aagard-Nilsen)
• -2024: Meisner technique acting course with Meisner in Music (New York)
• -Ulrich-Burkhardt-Preis (prize for best young artist at Staatstheater Meiningen)
• -Richard-Wagner scholarship of RWV Hamburg
• -Masterclasses with: Christa Ludwig, Francisco Araiza, Angelika Kirchschlager

The mezzo-soprano Marianne Schechtel grew up in Lübeck in a family of German-Russian descent. She completed her artistic training at the Lübeck University of Music and furthered her studies with a master’s degree at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin under the tutelage of Professor Thomas Quasthoff.

Currently, she is a member of the ensemble at the Meiningen State Theatre, where her repertoire includes notable roles such as Eboli in Verdi's Don Carlos, Carmen in Bizet's Carmen, Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte, the Dryad in Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos, Orlofsky in Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus, and the alto part in a staged version of Handel's Messiah.

For her contributions to the arts, she was awarded the “Ulrich-Burkhardt Förderpreis” by the Friends of the Meiningen Theatre in 2020, recognizing her as an outstanding emerging artist.

In the concert sphere, she is an active performer and made her debut at Konzerthaus Berlin, conducted by Alexander Lebek, where she sang the alto part in Mendelssohn's Die erste Walpurgisnacht. She also performed at Berliner Dom in J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, under the direction of Christoph Hagel.

Marianne has a particular passion for contemporary works and has interpreted various world premieres, including a song cycle titled “Wenn die Schatten singen,” composed specifically for her by K. Querfurth. Additionally, she has taken on roles in contemporary operas, such as the world premiere of Gespenster by T. Aagard-Nilsen, based on Henrik Ibsen’s drama, Julie in Julie by P. Boesmanns, Sister in Through His Teeth by L. Bedford, and in the children’s opera GOLD! by L. Evers. Most recently, she portrayed the lead role of Helene Alving in the commissioned opera Gespenster (T. Aagard-Nilsen) for the Meiningen State Theatre.

She has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as KS Francisco Araiza, KS Christa Ludwig, and KS Angelika Kirchschlager. During her studies, she was a scholarship recipient from the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now organization in Lübeck and Berlin. She has also received the Jutta-Schlegel Prize, as well as scholarships from the Possehl Foundation Lübeck, the Young Opera Lübeck, and the Richard Wagner Association in Hamburg.