Senior opera enthusiast trails internationally after Thomas Hampson
In a tale of enduring passion, 91-year-old Maren Deninger's fascination with baritone Thomas Hampson, spanning three decades, continues to flourish. It all began 30 years ago when Deninger first encountered Hampson on television.
Deninger's great enthusiasm for Hampson is due to his natural voice, flawless technique, stage presence, wit, ability to portray roles, teaching skills, and charisma. This admiration led Deninger to publish a book in 2008 about Hampson's opera roles.
Initially, Deninger's knowledge of opera was limited to three Mozart operas - "The Magic Flute", "Così fan tutte", and "The Marriage of Figaro". However, her quest for a singer who could impress her as much as the young Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau had led her to Hampson.
Over the years, Deninger has seen Hampson perform in multiple cities, including Zurich, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Montreal. She has even booked tickets for two performances of Hampson in the title role of "Nixon in China" at the Opéra Bastille in February, following the performance there on Friday, February 2, 20XX.
The next city where Deninger will be present to see Hampson perform is Boston, where "Nixon in China" will be performed by the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall on April 9, 2026.
Deninger's current journey takes her to Waiblingen, where she attended the Opera Workshop this week. The workshop, led by soprano Melanie Diener and Thomas Hampson, provided a comfortable environment for Deninger, thanks to the interested and friendly staff.
Deninger always sits in the front row at the opera to observe body language and expressions. She carries a pack of throat lozenges and a folded cotton cloth to discreetly muffle coughs during operas. Interestingly, she never goes to the premiere of an opera, preferring to see performances after the initial nerves have subsided.
As the 6th International Opera Workshop in Waiblingen comes to a close this Saturday, Deninger looks forward to a brief conversation with Hampson after the closing concert. She feels she has found her successor in Thomas Hampson.
Throughout her life, Deninger has visited all the major cities in Europe and their opera houses. Her love for opera and Hampson shows no signs of diminishing, making her a cherished figure in the opera community.
