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Biography
Born: October 26, 1934 - Bern, Switzerland
The Swiss bass, Jakob Stämpfli, studied singing at the Berne Conservatoire with Jakob Keller as well as in Frankfurt/Main with Professor Paul Lohmann.
Jakob Stämpfli made his debut in 1954 and has undertaken concert tours of Europe, the USA and Japan. Stämpfli made his first recording in 1955 after being approached by Günther Ramin, the Kantor of St. Thomas, Leipzig to participate in a performance of J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248). Eminent conductors with whom Stämpfli has worked include Ernest Ansermet, Boulez, Frühbeck de Burgos, Wolfgang Gönnenwein, Kempe, Ferdinand Leitner, Markevitch, Martinon, von Matacic, Previtali, Pritchard, Günther Ramin, Karl Richter, Rieger, Helmuth Rilling, Hanns-Martin Schneidt, Hans Swarowsky, Kurt Thomas, Wallberg, and Wenzinger.
Jakob Stämpfli has taught at the Biel Conservatoire (1960-1962) and at the Berne Conservatoire from 1963. He has also taught at the music colleges of Saarbruecken and Hamburg. Professor Stämpfli was director of the school of music for the Thun region (1973-1992) and in 1992 was appointed as director of the conservatoire for music and theatre in Berne. He is associated with the Association of the Professeurs de chant de Suisse, the Johannes Brahms Society Switzerland and is a member of the board of the European Voice Teachers' Association. Professor Stämpfli has given numerous master classes in different countries as well as being a judge for many vocal contests.
Jacob Stämpfli has made more than 50 commercial recordings, eight of which were awarded the Grand Prix du Disque. Stämpfli is perhaps best known for the numerous recordings of Bach cantatas he made under the direction of Helmuth Rilling. His repertoire encompasses all Bach's oratorios and more than 100 of his cantatas.