Bass-baritone Klaus Mertens is a leading singer of Baroque concert repertory, especially the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He has recorded nearly 100 of the cantatas and all the large choral works of the Leipzig master to great acclaim.
He was given singing lessons while in elementary school. His university studies were intended to prepare him for a career as a music teacher, and he worked as a schoolteacher for a time. But his developing vocal talents made it feasible to attempt a serious singing career. He embarked on additional voice training, teaching, and interpretatio...