The Brothers Quasthoff

“You can’t choose your relations…”

“… and that is why what nature has brought together frequently ends in envy and hatred, in the most extreme cases before a court of law or even in a graveyard.” This is how the biography of Thomas Quasthoff begins, causing us to suspect the worst, especially as it was written by his closest relative, his brother Michael Quasthoff (author and journalist), born in 1957. However, nothing could be further from the truth – the two of them get along extremely well, in fact, they are the greatest of friends, and both of them have the same outrageous sense of humour and strong nerves.

Altogether the best conditions for writing stories about their lives in a wonderfully ironic, light tone, not without risking one or two side digs at unloved contemporaries.

And because one of them is good at singing, whilst the other is good at writing, and both of them have a lot to say, the Brothers Quasthoff have produced three books, a brief outline of which is given below.

Thomas Quasthoff – The Voice

“I can’t wear tails on stage, I’m not much to look at, my body is small and inconspicuous, and I can’t make impressive gestures as I just don’t have the necessary extremities.

Usually there’s nothing much shining in the spotlights but the sweat running from my forehead and my big mouth, from which the tones of my voice roll forth.

The important thing is how they roll.

Someone who looks like the hunchback of Notre Dame might survive for a season as a curiosity, but in the long run the public will only accept an artist who has something to say.” (Thomas Quasthoff)

The book was published in 2004 by the Ullstein publishing group. It was written by Thomas und Michael Quasthoff. Besides German the book is also available in English and Swedish.

Further information on Thomas Quasthoff’s autobiography in German

Ach, hört mit Furcht und Grauen

O, Hark in Fear and Dread. My guide to the most beautiful ballads

People like singing and they also enjoy listening to eerily beautiful stories. That’s why the ballad was invented.

Ballads tell stories of heroes and sad losers, happiness and catastrophes, they tell of nightmares and ghosts, of love, murder, fury and death.

With his brother Michael, Thomas Quasthoff has made this lovingly selected compendium into a very personal book, touching upon everything it is important to know about poets, composers and singers – from Brecht to Van Dannen, from Schiller to Dylan. It is extremely entertaining to read and puts the reader in the mood for listening to ballads.

This work of nonfiction was brought out by the Ullstein Publishing group in October 2008.

Further information on “Ach, hört mit Furcht und Grauen” in German

Thomas Quasthoff

The Baritone
German: Der Bariton

From the preface written by the author Michael Quasthoff:

“The world of memoirs is full of people who would have done better to remain quiet rather than busy themselves with writing books about their famous relatives. Why am I doing it? Because Tommi was convinced that it would be a nice book, because many people complained that there are no pictures in his autobiography “The Voice”, and last but not least, because my brother is not only a wonderful singer, but also the most generous and helpful person, the most amusing companion and well, simply the most splendid chap I’ve ever met. And that is something I think everyone should know.”

The picture biography of Thomas Quasthoff was published by the Seemann Henschel publishing group in 2006.

Further information on this illustrated biography of Thomas Quasthoff (in German)