Das Lied von der Erde in Avignon

A few days ago, Damien Gastl tackled for the first time, at the Opéra Grand Avignon, the sublime Lied von der Erde by Gustav Mahler, in the arrangement for chamber orchestra made by Arnold Schönberg (completed by Rainer Riehn), with the privilege of singing, in place of the traditional contralto, the heartbreaking "Abschied".

Here are three press excerpts that illustrate the public's enthusiasm for Damien and this production:

„We particularly appreciated the baritone Damien Gastl, warm and vibrant voice, dark and enveloping timbre, beautiful legato, beautiful dramatic presence.“ (ClassiqueNews, André Peyrègne, 30.03.26)

Source: link

„Damien Gastl, the rising French baritone, offers us his resonant, well-modulated voice to express melancholy, inner suffering, but also ecstasy. He makes us forget that Mahler's initial choice was the alto voice: the fusion of the two male voices contributes to our musical pleasure.“ (Forumopera, Yvan Beuvard, 31.03.26).

Source: link

„Tenor Uwe Stickert and baritone Damien Gastl, two powerful and contrasting vocal incarnations of Mahler's poetry.“ (Blog culture du SNES-FSU, Jean-Pierre Haddad, 05.04.26)

Source: link

A beautiful musical interpretation and a bold, inspired and eloquent staging (expressed in video images and choreographic movements, in particular), which deserves to be revived!

15.04.26

Back to the Opéra national du Rhin

Our Alsatian baritone, Damien Gastl, just returned to the Opéra National du Rhin, taking on the role of the Father in Hänsel und Gretel, and his performance did not go unnoticed by the press.

Press Excerpts:

“Damien Gastl is a radiant and commanding Peter, who commands the stage beautifully. His baritone qualities, with their resonant low notes and brilliant high notes, are truly remarkable.” (Forumopera, Catherine Jordy, December 9, 2025)

“Strasbourg native Damien Gastl, a former artist with the Opéra Studio at the Opéra National du Rhin, possesses a warm and vibrant baritone that promises many opportunities in German opera for years to come.” (Olyrix, Patrick Delacour, December 8, 2025)

"Damien Gastl gives the Father a welcome breadth, versatility, and even a touch of lyricism." (Diapason, Erwan Gentric, December 9, 2025)

"Damien Gastl commands the role of Peter with the natural control of his perfectly projected vocal line." (Classiquenews, Florent Coudeyrat, December 8, 2025)

Next stop: Die Passagierin, a rarity by Mieczyslaw Weinberg, at the Opéra national du Capitole in Toulouse.

12.01.26

A busy opera season!

A busy opera season lies ahead for Damien Gastl. No fewer than five opera productions and four roles to learn will take him to the Opéra du Rhin (Hänsel und Gretel), the Opéra du Capitole in Toulouse (for three productions: La Passagère, Bus Papageno, Carmen) and the Opéra Grand Avignon (Das Lied von der Erde in a staged version)!

16.09.25

Role-debut as Conte Almaviva

There is nothing more precious for a singer at the start of his career than being entrusted with a leading role. An opportunity imperatively to be seized without hesitation, as only such experiences allow the artist to equally foster vocal maturity and stage competencies. We are therefore particularly looking forward to Damien Gastl's role debut as Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro) at the Nordhausen Theatre!

Opening night on 22 September 2023

All dates of performances

16.08.23

Appearances in France, Austria and Germany

For the completion of a season in which he returned to the Opéra du Rhin in Strasbourg (Der Schatzgräber by Schreker) and in which he made his debut at the Opéra national du Capitole de Toulouse (Tristan und Isolde), Damien Gastl is once again guest with the Graz Styriarte Festival. He is singing there Mozart's Coronation-Mass as well as an early work by Beethoven, the Cantata on the death of Emperor Joseph II WoO 87. Subsequently he will proceed to Thuringia for his role-debut as Count Almaviva in a new production of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Nordhausen Theatre.

Opening night on September 22, 2023.

All dates of performances

31.05.23

Grandfather clock and cat in Alsace

Damien Gastl’s second season with the opera-studio of the Opéra national du Rhin in Strasbourg is in full swing and the opera-production of the Christmas-season already casts its shadows before. However, which kind of magic will turn Damien into both a grandfather clock and a cat? Maurice Ravel and Colette are certainly having a finger in the pie!

Ravel’s and Colette’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, a new-production of the opera-studio of the Opéra national du Rhin, is opening at the Comédie de Colmar on December 15th. Further performances will follow in 2022 at the Théâtre de Hautepierre in Strasbourg and at the Filature in Mulhouse.

All dates of performances

18.11.21

Hansel and Gretel at the Opéra national du Rhin

After having created a first-class Don Giovanni in a corona-appropriate version with the prestigious Graz Styriarte Festival this summer, Damien Gastl joined the outstanding Opéra national du Rhin opera-studio in Strasbourg, his native city. He meanwhile made his debut there in Samson et Dalila and will soon perform the role of the father in Hänsel und Gretel. Opening-night will be on December 12, 2020.

21.10.20

Don Giovanni with the Styriarte Festival

He was supposed to make his role-debut as Don Giovanni within a staged production of the renowned Styriarte Festival this summer. The staged version can after all unfortunately not take place; Damien Gastl, nevertheless, finally appears there as Don Giovanni, now joining the concert-series under the title Don Giovanni in distress (Don Giovanni in Nöten).

All dates of concerts

30.06.20