
What has led to this phenomenon that is Matthew Overmeyer?
Matthew Overmeyer was born in Cape Town South Africa. He began his opera training as a tenor in 1995, when he was discovered by Magdalena Oosthuizen He studied under the guidance of some of South Africa’s finest musical and elite mentors, some of which include Prof Virginia Davids and Prof Angelo Gobbato.
Matthew, has been making waves in South Africa and also Internationally since he started singing professionally in 2002 ( would you believe he was a chemical analyst before that?)
He believes you were either born to sing or not, and no amount of training will alter that. And he was born to sing! But it was only through the encouragement of others that he took the plunge.
He started in the church choir and, at the age of 11 or 12, when his voice broke he started out as a bass. But the real change came at the age of 14.
“I listened to a scratchy old LP of Mario Lanza,” “And from that day I was different from all my peers.” There is still an aria off this album that stands him in good stead today – an audition show piece that “has never failed me”.
But that was the early days. It was performances at the Karoo Fest and the encouragement of many Cape voice luminaries that made him consider the professional route. “I was my own worst enemy,” he admits modestly. “I thought I wasn’t good enough, but if others thought I was good enough, I decided the problem must be with me.” By now, his voice having progressed from baritone to tenor, he auditioned for the chorus of Cape Town Opera and three months later had a solo role in Lucia di Lammermoor.
The rest is history. I Pagliacci, Les Pêcheurs de Perles, La Traviata, Nabucco, The Bartered Bride and Così fan tutte followed. Then from 2004 to 2007 he toured South Africa and the Far East in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom . Operetta roles in Lehár’s The Merry Widow and Strauss’s Die Fledermaus followed, as did a full scale production of Mozart’s Magic Flute.
With the Italian repertoire under his belt, he turned his attention to Wagner, receiving critical acclaim for Der fliegende Holländer in Cape Town last year. In June and July he goes to audition in Germany – a tour that will take him to Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Munich. He hopes to land a role in one of the large German opera houses. “They found something in my voice and were impressed,” he tells me. “And there are talks of the Wagner competition.” Exciting prospects. Plus he relishes the opportunity to work and train regularly .
He ascribes it to what he calls the potato philosophy. “You grow underground like a potato and when you are ripe you must come out. Then when you sing, everyone can enjoy the meal.”
Currently Matthew Overmeyer lives in Germany where he is actively involved in Church Life at the New Apostolic Church as a Choir Conductor. Matthew is a permanent member of Theater Hagen and holds the position of 1st Tenor where he performs Opera and other theatrical work. Matthew is passionate about music and performing arts and is always working on new projects.
Follow him on Social Media and check his website regularly for updates of his latest performances and events!
He is an award wining performer and his resume speaks for itself:
Repertoire
Lucia di Lammermoor |
Arturo |
italienisch |
La Traviata |
Gastone |
italienisch |
Nabucco |
Abdallo |
italienisch |
I Pagliacci |
Beppo |
italienisch |
Cosi fan Tutte |
Ferrando |
italienisch |
Die Zauberflöte |
Erster Priester |
deutsch |
Erste Geharnischter
Les Pècheur de Perles |
Nadir |
französisch |
Carmen |
Don Jose |
französisch |
Treemonisha |
Remus |
englisch |
Dead man Walking |
Father Granville |
englisch |
Das Phantom der Oper |
Piangi |
englisch |
Eine Nacht in Venedig |
Caramello |
deutsch |
Die Fledermaus |
Eisenstein |
deutsch |
The merry Widow |
Camille de Rossilon |
englisch |
La Scala di Seta |
Dorvil |
italienisch |
The barted Bride |
Jenik |
englisch |
Der fliegende Holländer |
Eric |
deutsch |
Fidelio |
Der Erste Gevangener |
deutsch |
Jonny Spielt Auf |
Erster Polizist |
deutsch |
Der Rosenkavallier |
Tierhändler,Kellner |
deutsch |
Eugene Onegin |
Vorsänger |
deutsch |
Lucia di Lammermoor |
Normanno |
Italienisch |
Wienerwald |
Gramafon sänger |
Deutsch |
Ritter Roland |
Licone |
Deutsch |
Aida |
Bote |
Italienisch |
Oratorienaufführungen als Tenor Soli
Verdi |
Reqiem |
Haydn |
The Creation |
Händel |
Der Messias |
Mozart |
Requiem |
Mozart |
Missa di Brevi |
Saint Saens |
Oratorio De Noel |
Bach |
Kantata BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott |
Aufführungen als Chorsänger als Tenor
Die Fledermaus
La Boheme
Carmina Burana
Brahm`s Requiem
Rocky Horror Show
Bruckner E- moll Messe
Don Giovanni
Don Carlos
La Traviata
Der fliegende Holländer
Peter Grimes
Aida
Cabaret
Die Großherzogin von Gerolstein
Der Wildschütz
Susanah
Carmen
Jesus Christ Superstar
Otello
Lola rennt
Don Quichotte
Don Pasquale
Faust
Die Spinnen Die Römer
Die Entfürung aus dem Serial
Ball im Savoy
Fidelio
Madama Butterfly
Die Zauberflöte
Vanessa
Jonny Spielt Auf
Eugene Onegin
Der Rosenkavalier
Die Csardasfürstin
Lucia di Lammermoor
Wienerwald
Tosca
Frau Luna
Simone Boccanegra
Pariser Leben