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The French bass ans choral conductor, Jean-Christophe Groffe, first studied classical guitar, then musicology in France. During his studies, his interest in the voice and especially for the vocal polyphony was awakened. He then devoted himself to singing, studying with Howard Crook in Paris. His interest is particularly true of the Renaissance and Baroque music, which is why he studied singing at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Evelyn Tubb and Gerd Türk. He also had lessons with Andreas Scholl, Anthony Rooley and Andrea Marcon and gained a diploma in singing, ensemble music and pedagogy. Choral conducting, he studied with Daniel Bargier in France and Hans-Martin Linde in Basel.
Inspired by the scenic work, Jean-Christophe Groffe has been involved in Paris, Zürich, Basel, Rouen and Tours in numerous music theater projects as a soloist, ensemble singers and choristers. He also sang under the baton of renowned conductors such as Ton Koopman, Frans Brüggen, Masaaki Suzuki, Andrea Marcon, Pablo Heras-Casado, Christopher Hogwood, Mariss Jansons, Bernard Haitink, Charles Dutoit, Marek Janowski, Alan Gilbert and Heinz Holliger.
Jean-Christophe Groffe, who is also interested in the new music of the 20th and 21st century, is a member of the Ensemble SoloVoices, a vocal quartet specialist in contemporary music. In addition to his activities as a singer, he directs choirs in and around Basel, taught singing at the Musikschule Muttenz and gives at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis presentations on interpretation of French music.
Jean-Christophe Groffe is founder and director of professional Ensemble Thélème. The focus of his work is on the understanding of the artistic and sociological context and the direct access to the sources. For him, the attitude of the artist towards the music is crucial. He understands the music as a contemporary object and do not want to restore a past universe. Since the beginning of January 2012, he directs the Chor Kultur und Volk in Basel. He now lives in Switzerland. |
