“Your committed efforts for the world of Lied in which you have found your artistic home has lead to a mighty deed that in its generosity and palpable, intense enthusiasm does good for all those involved: I mean the competition that you have called into being, which is only dedicated to the Lied and the promotion of young singers interested in this genre. But not only the young singers profit from the competence and the enthusiasm which characterized the first year’s competition, but also for everyone who is privileged to participate: that is, the jurors as well, who can enjoy, support, and admire their untiringly active chairman, Thomas Quasthoff. (…) the audience was also full of excitement and interest, and not least the generous donors, with their hands wide open.
Let us hope that the competition will last for a long time, with the creative idea that is so important to you.
In any case, you have created something here that is greatly needed in our day in age, more and more subject to superficiality: promoting a well-educated upcoming generation, caring for the survival of an art form threatened with extinction, Lied, and the targeted aid and support for an upcoming generation that is capable of maintaining this tradition.”
Brigitte Fassbaender, on the occasion of the award of the title of Austrian Chamber Singer to Thomas Quasthoff, Vienna, December 1, 2009