With a degree in voice and piano from the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique of Geneva and a Bachelor’s Degree in Musicology and German literature, Richard Rittelmann began his career at the age of 22 at the National Opera of Lyon in the new production of Doktor Faust under the baton of Kent Nagano and directed by Pierre Strosser.
He has also been a prizewinner at various international competitions such as the Voix d Or, Toulouse,Marmande, Eurobottega and Voix Nouvelles in Paris. This proved to be an important launchpad for his career.
His eclectic discography covers an impressive range of repertoire, stretching from baroque : Monteverdi’s Ulysses and Vivaldi’s Kyrie (CD Mondomusica), to classic and romantic: Massenet’s Le Jongleur de Notre Dame with the Orchestre de Montpellier conducted by Enrique Diemecke (CD Deutsche Grammophon), and also to 20th century and contemporary repertoire: ‘Kagel Dirige Kagel’ with soloists from Lyon Bernard Tétu (CD Auvidis), Doktor Faust conducted by Kent Nagano (CD Erato), ‘Un Portrait de Raoul Lay’ with the Ensemble Télémaque (CD Harmonia Mundi). Other recordings include: the world premiere of F. Testi’s Saül with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France conducted by M. Zanetti (CD Naïve), the world premiere of ‘Dernier Jour d’un Condamné’ with the Orchestre d’Ile de France conducted by Michel Plasson (CD Deutsche Grammophon), world premiere of Heera Kim’s Ex Abrupto with the Bayerische Rundfunk in Munich conducted by Arturo Tamajo (CD Musica Viva), recording of the G. de Olavide’s oeuvre under the baton of Arturo Tamayo with the Orchestre de la RTVE de Madrid (CD Verso).
His most memorable interpretations of roles include in Idomeneo (Ivan Fischer) at the Opéra Garnier de Paris, in Ariadne auf Naxos at the Opéra de Nice ( Schnitzler/Riber), in Werther (Alain Guingal) at the Regio Torino, in Cyrano de Bergerac from Alfano in Montpellier / Garnier Monte Carlo and la Maestranza (Guidarini/Alagna), in Manon at Hong Kong Opera (Nicola Colabianchi – Nadine Duffault), in les Dialogues des Carmélites at the Opéra de Nice (Michel Plasson – Carsen)…
He sostituted Erwin Schrott at the last minute in Le Dernier Jour d’un Condamné in February 2008, singing 4 parts at the Palau de les Arts de Valencia (Villard – Alagna). He has sung in Faust at the teatro Massimo alongside Bocelli, Voulgaridou, Scandiuzzi under the baton of Michel Plasson(with CD release).
Every summer he conducts several masterclasses in la Baule where he is developing an operatic class.
He is Roberto Alagna’ s very close friend and has recorded more than 4 titles for Deutsche Grammophon-Universal with him.
Winner of the ARMEL / ARTE competition in 2014 in Budapest, in Vienna, performing the main part Punch and Judy from Harrison Birtwistle.
In 2015 he sang in the Merry Widow at the opera of Nice conducted by Philippe Auguin , in a concert Richard Strauss with Silvia Sass in Rome, in Turandot and Death in Venice conducted by Roland Boerat the opera of Nice , Ludwig in the saint Elizabeth‘s Legend ( Liszt ) in Lisboa with Carole Sidney conducted by Arturo Tamayo…; Schoenberg Serenadeat the National Radio in Lugano and at Schoenberg Centre in Vienna conducted by Arturo Tamayo , Figlia del Regimento at the Teatro Nuovo of Torino conducted by Michele Spotti, Carmina Burana at the Art Centre Bibliotheca alexandrina conducted by Hisham Gabr, Boheme conducted by G. Rath , masterclassesin Paris.
2017—2018
During the season 2017 / 2018 he sang in:
Haydn ‘ s Creationwith the Philharmonic Orchestra in Nice conducted by Philippe Auguin
Menotti ‘ s Telephone with the Serbian national Theatre in Novi Sad and at the Opera of Budapest ( where he won the audience prize on Arte Live Television )
Mad Dog in the boy who grew too fast by Menotti in S. Francisco
the Pharaon in Moise by Rossini in Nice ( conducted by Wolfgang Doerner)
Nemo and Flip in « Little Nemo », a worldwide creation by David Chaillou at the Operas of Nantes / Angers & Auditorium of Dijon with Radio France live recording ( Philippe Nahon / Olivier Balazuc)
Malatesta in Don Pasquale in Torino (Michele Spotti / Angione)
Marin grec & Soldat in Les Troyens by Berlioz in Strasbourg conducted by JohnNelson with Joyce Di Donato , Lemieux , Degout… ( CD recording WARNER ) .
Retablo de Maese Pedro at the Swiss National Radio in Lugano under the baton of Arturo Tamayo
Monteverdi ‘ s Vespers at the Abbaye of Cluny conducted by Jean-Louis Rebut with Emiliano Gonzales.
Gala concert at the Opera of Nice with Francois – René Duchâble
Matrimonio Segreto by Cimarosa in Torino with Maestro Paolo Grosa
Organizer and performer of a Musical Cruise on MSC from Venise to Athens ( Hommage to Maria Callas ).
Achille in la Belle Hélène at the Opera of Nice ( Bruno Membrey / Bernard Pisani )
Fauré ‘ s Requiem with the Symphonic Orchestra of Avignon conducted by Michel Piquemal .
Petite Messe Solennelle ( Rossini ) and Deutsches Requiem at the Sacred Music Festival in Nice conducted by Alain Joutard.
The Count in Le Nozze di Figaro at the National Opera of Greece ( Christos Ktistkis /Kassandra Dimitropoulos)
Gregorio in Romeo and Juliette at the Opera of Nice ( Alain Guingal / Irina Brook )
Title role in Douce et Barbe Bleue by Isabelle Aboulker ( Simon Proust / Laure Crumière) in Paris .
Marcello in la Bohème of Puccini in Bucarest , Cyprus , Thessaloniki & Sydney
2019
In 2019 he sang in:
DON INIGO GOMEZ in l’ Heure Espagnole of Ravel in Cannes ( Patrick Nebbula / Thomas Morris ) with Albane Carrère ; IL CONTE in Nozze di Figaro in Torino ( Paolo Grosa / Susy Dardo ) ; MARCELLO at the Opera of Thessaloniki ( / Kassandra Dimitropoulos ) ; « Ausgespannt » de Klaus Huber conducted by Arturo Tamayo at the Festival Novecento in Lugano ; Concert opera arias conducted by Nader Abassi with Amira Selim ( symphonic Slovaque Orchestra ) ; FIGARO in il Barbiere di Siviglia in Nice – EAC project sponsorized by the French Ministery of Culture ( Patrick Nebbula / Carlo Boso ) ; PROSPER in la Vie Parisienne by Offenbach at the Opera of Nice ( Bruno Membrey / Serge Manguette) , BRETIGNY in Manon by Massenet at the Opera of Rouen , in Andrea Chenier ( G. Ràth) at the Opera of Nice , Chinese and Tawanese tour…
He works regularly with Sass Sylvia & Nicola Martinucci on vocal technique and Elda Laro e Paolo Grosa for musical coaching.
2021
Projects in 2021:
January 2021
Le Médecin / le Berger in Pelléas et Mélisande (Debussy) at the Opera of Rouen
(conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud and directed by Eric Ruf)
February 2021
9th Symphony of Beethoven
(conducted by Matthieu Peyregne) in Provence
–CANCELLED–
March 2021
Benoît in La Bohème (Puccini) at the Opera of Nice
(conducted by Giuliano Carella and directed by Kristian Frédric)
–CANCELLED–
April 2021
Donner in Rheingold (Wagner) with the Philarmonic Orchestra of Nice
(conducted by György G. Ráth)
–CANCELLED–
May 2021
Concert in Rome with Sylvia Sass
–CANCELLED–
June 2021
Tour in Taiwan
–CANCELLED–
CD Recording (Opera Discovery) of «Rita» by Donizetti
9th Symphony of Beethoven
(conducted by Matthieu Peyregne) at the Opera of Nice
Don Giovanni title role in Croatia and Hungary conducted by Maestro Jerkovic
Danilo in «Die lustige Witwe» in Germany with Opera Classica Musica
July 2021
Carmina Burana (Carl Orff) at the Roman Arenas in Nice
(conducted by György G. Ráth)
August 2021
Open air concerts in Provence
September 2021
ART AND HORSE in Switzerland sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger
with Lussy Furrer & Laetitia Goepfert
October 2021
Escamillo in «La Tragédie de Carmen» (Bizet) in Cannes-Mandelieu (Patrick Nebbula).
November 2021
Concert with Avi Klemberg and Valeriya Kucherenko at the Opera of Béziers.
December 2021
D’Estillac in «Die lustige Witwe» in Germany at the Opera of Nice
Raoul de Saint-Brioche in La Veuve Joyeuse (Franz Lehár) at the Opera of Nice (Bruno Membrey / Benoît Bénichon)
Garde-feu in La Vie Parisienne (Jacques Offenbach) in Paris
(Emmanuel Marfoglia)
2022
Projects in 2022:
January 2022
Le Petit Prince «100% Culture École» in Nice.
February 2022
Kurt Weill in the worldwide creation Lenya Lenya in London (Opera on the move)
March 2022
Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (Mozart) tour in UK (Opera on the move)
April 2022
Concerts tour in Taiwan
June 2022
Concerts in San Francisco
Concert at the Opera of Marseille
Worldwide creation Reiner’s Requiem in Saint-Sulpice Paris
July 2022
Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, Opus Opéra in Nice
Escamillo in Saint-Brévin Musica Paris @ Saint-Hilaire (Les Saltimbanques)
August 2022
Tschang in Das Land des Lächelns in Castle Braunfels (Opera Classica Europa)
September 2022
Marullo in Rigoletto (Verdi) at the Opera of Rouen (Ben Glassberg – Richard Brunel)
recorded for the National French Television with Pene Pati, Rosa Feola, Sergio Vitale
November 2022
Tour in Taiwan
December 2022
Concert at the Opera of Frankfurt conducted by Hans-Friedrich Härle
Requiem of Mozart in Nice conducted by Sebastien Driant
2023
Projects in 2023:
February 2023
Nissa la Bella at the Stadium Allianz in Nice
March 2023
Carmina Burana in Vence conducted by Frédéric Deloche with Norah Amsellem and Frédéric Diquero
Sharpless in Madame Butterfly in Cannes conducted by Patrick Nebbula with Fabienne Conrad, Carine Séchaye and Christophe Berry
May 2023
Agamemnon in La Belle Hélène (Offenbach) in Paris with Orchestra Colonne conducted by Louis-Vincent Bruere and directed by Emmanuel Marfoglia
Benoit in La Bohème at the Opera of Nice conducted by Daniele Callegari
June 2023
Plutone & Apollo in Orfeo (Monteverdi) in Lyon with Ensemble San Felice conducted by Paolo Belloci and directed by Federico Bardazzi (Erasmus + Project)
July 2023
Valentin in Faust (Gounod) and Escamillo in Carmen in Espace Miramar Cannes
Escamillo in Bad Schwalbach (Opera Classica Europa)
August 2023
Concerts with Bohème Production in Arènes of Fréjus / Théâtre de la Mer in Golf-Juan
September 2023
Ramirez in La Belle de Cadix (Lopez) at the Théâtre de Verdure in Nice (Festival d’Opérette)
November 2023
Les Aventures et Nouvelles Aventures (Ligeti) conducted by Francesco Angelico at Lugano Musica
December 2023
The film La Vie Parisienne in Paris produced by Gaumont et Disney+ (Lepage/Marfoglia) with Gérard Depardieu , Natalie Dessay, Roberto Alagna
New issue CD recording DUO LOGOS (by Detrad Paris) with Laure Crumière (Jean–François Gassot) with a national tour in France
He works regularly with Nicola Martinucci & Sylvia Sass on vocal technique and Elda Laro & Paolo Grosa for coaching.
