Stefan Berghammer                                                                       

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Stefan Berghammer is trained in the teaching of the Swedish/Italian School of Singing (which produced such excellent singers as Kirsten Flagstad and Jussi Björling) in Europe and in the USA. He works with classical singers, jazz singers and rock singers (professionals as well as amateurs).

The Swedish/Italian singing technique has a long tradition, beginning in the 19th century with Manuel Garcia, continuing with Dr.Gillis Bratt ( Swedish singing teacher - of Kirsten Flagstad and Joseph Hislop, among others - opera baritone, student of psychology with Sigmund Freud, and ear, nose and throat doctor), Inge Borg Isene, Jussi Björling and Birgit Nilsson, up to Alan Lindquest and David L. Jones. Stefan Berghammer himself studies this singing technique with David L. Jones, a pupil of Lindquest.

The principles of this method are a free voice with efficient resonance and carrying capacity, flexibility,  a large vocal range, a pleasant individual timbre, and a well-balanced vibrato combined with clear diction. These principles enable the singer to communicate freely with the audience through the medium of music.

Healthy singing is a matter of awakening the natural reflexes of special significance. By means of purpose-designed and individually adapted vocal exercises, but also by body work (using a choice of exercises from the Feldenkrais method, Alexander Technique, Eutony, Terlusology and Bioenergetics) a balance between body, voice and soul is achieved.

"Philosophy of Teaching" by Alan R. Lindquest: "It is important to know that you do not simply teach the voice, you embrace the entire person, spirit and voice together, by inspiring vocal progress and knowledge, nurturing the entire being, and by becoming a master psychologist in the kindest sense of the word. Every singer must be helped to establish a feeling of peace, joy, safety and inspiration. This is the only road forward toward lasting vocal progress."   

Alan Lindquest’s most significant study involved two major teachers in Sweden - Joseph Hislop (teacher of Jussi Bjoerling) and Madame Ingebjart-Isene (teacher of Kirsten Flagstad). Both of these teachers studied with Dr. Gillis Bratt, who trained under the famous pedagogues, G.B. Lamperti and Manuel Garcia, as well as Lombardi (Caruso’s teacher). Mr. Lindquest also was influenced by his study with Madame Paola Novikova, teacher of Nicolai Gedda and George London. Madame Novikova was the student of the famous baritone, Mattia Battistini, one of the last direct proponents of the Old Italian School.

Mr. Lindquest became one of the most important vocal researchers of his time. In 1955, he taught the famous vocal pedagogue, William Vennard (teacher of the famous mezzo-soprano, Marilyn Horne).

Alan Lindquest played a major part in saving the Swedish/Italian School of Singing from extinction. Few singers and teachers know of this technique, which adopts the brilliance and clarity of the Old Italian School with the beauty and richness of the Swedish language. Many of the exercises that Stefan Berghammer teaches were originally designed by Manuel Garcia, Enrico Caruso, Alan Lindquest, as well as David Jones. The result is a powerful voice, with a true balance of height and depth, color and ring (known as chiaroscuro, bright-dark). This technique can be applied to all musical styles, especially opera, classical and “legit style” musical theater.

This singing technique is especially recommended for the repair of vocal damage.