Thomas Greuel
Thomas Greuel was born in Rheinbach near Bonn in 1967. After leaving school he studied
singing at the Cologne College of Music from 1987, completing his stage exams in 1993.
Three years earlier he had already successfully auditioned for a place at the opera studio of the
Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. There he sang in many roles and was able to develop
his singing and acting abilities. He remained at the Düsseldorf opera house until 1996, when he
became a freelance. He then made guest appearances at many different opera houses in
Germany (Kiel, Bremen, Stralsund, Münster, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Hagen, Cologne,
Frankfurt, Hanover, Wiesbaden, Weimar, Zwickau, Würzburg, Karlsruhe, and Augsburg).
Since 2001 he has again been under contract to the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, where he is
expected to remain until 2009.
Zimmermann, Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Aristaeus/Pluto in Orpheus in the
Underworld, Monostatos in The Magic Flute, the schoolmaster in The Cunning Little Vixen, the innkeeper in Der
Rosenkavalier, the helmsman in Der Fliegende Holländer, and
Canio in I Pagliacci.
In oratorio and sacred music he has a leaning towards Händel, Haydn, and Mendelssohn (The Creation, Elijah, The
Seasons, etc.). In the field of lieder his strength lies in interpreting works by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, and
Richard Strauss.
Bela Mavrak
Born in Baden near Vienna, he began his study of singing in 1989 at the Academy of Music
in Belgrade and continued his study further at the University of Music in Cologne, where he
received his arts diploma in 1994.
Master courses then followed, with Franco Corelli in Milano and with Gianni Raimondi and
Nicolai Gedda in Italy.
In 1991 he was engaged by Columbia Artists for a tour through America in which he sang solo-tenor parts from Carl
Orff's Catulli Carmina and Ariel Ramirez' Misa Criolla. In the USA and Canada he had successful appearances in
numerous cities (among these New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.).
At the State Opera House in Belgrade he characterized the figure of Rodolfo in Puccini's
La Boheme
After being awarded the Gold Medal at the International Singing Competition in Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy he
started drawing attention for the first time and his singing was as equally convincing through the many radio and
television productions made as it was by the CD recordings of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, Vivaldi's
Magnificat and the world premiere of Marianna Martinez' In Exitu Israel and Dixit Dominus at the Cologne
Philharmonic Hall.
Then, as from May 1998, the German National Theatre in Weimar engaged him for two years as a solist for the
European cultural event, "Weimar - Cultural City of Europe, 1999".
In 2004 he toured Germany as Tamino in The Magic Flute, taking part in over 20 performances. He then appeared
on German television, in concerts with André Rieu, and in a series of New Year concerts with the North-West
German Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2005 he appeared as Alfredo in La Traviata at the Budapest spring festival, and
toured Holland and Belgium as Edwin in Die Csárdásfürstin by Emmerich Kálmán.
Béla Mavrák lives in Cologne. It was there that he joined up with Gary Bennett and
Thomas Greuel in 2000; since then they have appeared as The Platin Tenors, on
stage and on television. André Rieu became aware of them in 2005 and engaged
them for a world tour with over 100 appearances. Several concerts given in the
Netherlands have also been broadcast on German TV.
Bela's website
Gary Bennett
Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He studied physics and mathematics at the University
of Tasmania before moving to London to further his singing studies. During his time in London he
won a scholarship to the National Opera Studio. After auditioning for the late Sir John Pritchard he
moved to Germany to join the Cologne Opera Studio. Where he spent two years with the Cologne
Opera Studio.
His repertoire includes; Hoffmann Tales of Hoffmann, Idomeneo (title role), Faust Faust, Rodolfo La Bohéme, Tom
Rakewell The Rake’s Progress, Prince Rusalka, Ramiro La Cenerentola, Almaviva Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Ernesto
Don Pasquale, Nadir The Pearl Fishers, Tamino The Magic Flute, Belmonte The Abduction from Seraglio, Loge Das
Rheingold and Duca Rigoletto.
He also works regularly in the oratorio and recital fields and has appeared in France,
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Japan as well as in the above mentioned countries. His
repertoire includes the Evangelists in Bach’s St Matthew Passion and St John Passion
and Schubert’s song cycles Die Winterreise and Die Schöne Müllerin.
Bennett lives with his family in Cologne. There he met Thomas Grueul and Béla Mavrák
in 2000, and the three now appear jointly as the Platin Tenors, on stage and on TV. In
2005 they came to the notice of André Rieu who signed them up for his world tour with
over 100 appearances. Some of their concerts in the Netherlands and Germany have
been broadcast on television.
Thomas Greuel was born in Rheinbach near Bonn in 1967. After leaving school he studied
singing at the Cologne College of Music from 1987, completing his stage exams in 1993.
Three years earlier he had already successfully auditioned for a place at the opera studio of the
Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. There he sang in many roles and was able to develop
his singing and acting abilities. He remained at the Düsseldorf opera house until 1996, when he
became a freelance. He then made guest appearances at many different opera houses in
Germany (Kiel, Bremen, Stralsund, Münster, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Hagen, Cologne,
Frankfurt, Hanover, Wiesbaden, Weimar, Zwickau, Würzburg, Karlsruhe, and Augsburg).
Since 2001 he has again been under contract to the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, where he is
expected to remain until 2009.
Zimmermann, Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Aristaeus/Pluto in Orpheus in the
Underworld, Monostatos in The Magic Flute, the schoolmaster in The Cunning Little Vixen, the innkeeper in Der
Rosenkavalier, the helmsman in Der Fliegende Holländer, and
Canio in I Pagliacci.
In oratorio and sacred music he has a leaning towards Händel, Haydn, and Mendelssohn (The Creation, Elijah, The
Seasons, etc.). In the field of lieder his strength lies in interpreting works by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, and
Richard Strauss.
Bela Mavrak
Born in Baden near Vienna, he began his study of singing in 1989 at the Academy of Music
in Belgrade and continued his study further at the University of Music in Cologne, where he
received his arts diploma in 1994.
Master courses then followed, with Franco Corelli in Milano and with Gianni Raimondi and
Nicolai Gedda in Italy.
In 1991 he was engaged by Columbia Artists for a tour through America in which he sang solo-tenor parts from Carl
Orff's Catulli Carmina and Ariel Ramirez' Misa Criolla. In the USA and Canada he had successful appearances in
numerous cities (among these New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, etc.).
At the State Opera House in Belgrade he characterized the figure of Rodolfo in Puccini's
La Boheme
After being awarded the Gold Medal at the International Singing Competition in Santa Margherita Ligure in Italy he
started drawing attention for the first time and his singing was as equally convincing through the many radio and
television productions made as it was by the CD recordings of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, Vivaldi's
Magnificat and the world premiere of Marianna Martinez' In Exitu Israel and Dixit Dominus at the Cologne
Philharmonic Hall.
Then, as from May 1998, the German National Theatre in Weimar engaged him for two years as a solist for the
European cultural event, "Weimar - Cultural City of Europe, 1999".
In 2004 he toured Germany as Tamino in The Magic Flute, taking part in over 20 performances. He then appeared
on German television, in concerts with André Rieu, and in a series of New Year concerts with the North-West
German Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2005 he appeared as Alfredo in La Traviata at the Budapest spring festival, and
toured Holland and Belgium as Edwin in Die Csárdásfürstin by Emmerich Kálmán.
Béla Mavrák lives in Cologne. It was there that he joined up with Gary Bennett and
Thomas Greuel in 2000; since then they have appeared as The Platin Tenors, on
stage and on television. André Rieu became aware of them in 2005 and engaged
them for a world tour with over 100 appearances. Several concerts given in the
Netherlands have also been broadcast on German TV.
Bela's website
Gary Bennett
Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He studied physics and mathematics at the University
of Tasmania before moving to London to further his singing studies. During his time in London he
won a scholarship to the National Opera Studio. After auditioning for the late Sir John Pritchard he
moved to Germany to join the Cologne Opera Studio. Where he spent two years with the Cologne
Opera Studio.
His repertoire includes; Hoffmann Tales of Hoffmann, Idomeneo (title role), Faust Faust, Rodolfo La Bohéme, Tom
Rakewell The Rake’s Progress, Prince Rusalka, Ramiro La Cenerentola, Almaviva Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Ernesto
Don Pasquale, Nadir The Pearl Fishers, Tamino The Magic Flute, Belmonte The Abduction from Seraglio, Loge Das
Rheingold and Duca Rigoletto.
He also works regularly in the oratorio and recital fields and has appeared in France,
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Japan as well as in the above mentioned countries. His
repertoire includes the Evangelists in Bach’s St Matthew Passion and St John Passion
and Schubert’s song cycles Die Winterreise and Die Schöne Müllerin.
Bennett lives with his family in Cologne. There he met Thomas Grueul and Béla Mavrák
in 2000, and the three now appear jointly as the Platin Tenors, on stage and on TV. In
2005 they came to the notice of André Rieu who signed them up for his world tour with
over 100 appearances. Some of their concerts in the Netherlands and Germany have
been broadcast on television.
The Platin Tenors
Their website
Before the three tenors sang together they each had a successful solo career. They still perform solo at times, but
while under contract for Andre Rieu, they do not have much time for outside work.
Their website
Before the three tenors sang together they each had a successful solo career. They still perform solo at times, but
while under contract for Andre Rieu, they do not have much time for outside work.
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The three Platin Tenors with Sigrun
Sigrun Haertel and Gary Bennett
In the Summer of 2006, Bela who is single went on a visit to Papua New Guinea.
He even tried to get more fans for Andre, by handing out programs.
He said he had a great time and it was very interesting.
He even tried to get more fans for Andre, by handing out programs.
He said he had a great time and it was very interesting.
As we have been able to hear on the
soap, Bela likes crocodile boots
soap, Bela likes crocodile boots
He lives with his family in Bad Münstereifel near the Belgian border. Since 2000 he has
frequently sung with his colleagues Gary Bennett and Béla Mavrák, appearing as The
Platin Tenors. Following many television shows they received an offer in 2005 to take part
in André Rieu’s world tour with over 100 appearances. The Platin Tenors have already
been seen several times on Rieu’s TV specials.
Thomas Greuel’s repertoire covers numerous roles, including Peter Ivanov in Zar und
frequently sung with his colleagues Gary Bennett and Béla Mavrák, appearing as The
Platin Tenors. Following many television shows they received an offer in 2005 to take part
in André Rieu’s world tour with over 100 appearances. The Platin Tenors have already
been seen several times on Rieu’s TV specials.
Thomas Greuel’s repertoire covers numerous roles, including Peter Ivanov in Zar und
In 1994 he made his debut in Verdi's Requiem at the Bonner Beethoven Hall with
the
Philharmonica Hungarica. One year later he sang this commanding tenor part at the
Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and at the Teatro Municipal in Sao Paolo, before then he
moved on to the Salzburger Concert Hall to take up the principle role in Hector Berlioz’
Faust's Damnation.
Then he gave a beneficiary concert at the St.Stephan Basilika in Budapest, sang
interpretations of tenor arias from J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio in several Jugoslavian
cathedrals and sang famous opera arias and songs in Tokio and Sapporo.
the
Philharmonica Hungarica. One year later he sang this commanding tenor part at the
Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and at the Teatro Municipal in Sao Paolo, before then he
moved on to the Salzburger Concert Hall to take up the principle role in Hector Berlioz’
Faust's Damnation.
Then he gave a beneficiary concert at the St.Stephan Basilika in Budapest, sang
interpretations of tenor arias from J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio in several Jugoslavian
cathedrals and sang famous opera arias and songs in Tokio and Sapporo.
His repertoire covers many roles, including Faust in Gounod’s opera of that name and
Berlioz’ La Damnation de Faust, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Pinkerton in Madame
Butterfly, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Cassio in Otello,
the Marquis de Chateauneuf in Albert Lortzing’s Zar und Zimmermann, the singer in Der
Rosenkavalier, Tristan und Isolde, the first knight of the Grail in Parsifal, Prince Sou-
Chong in Lehár’s Das Land des Lächelns, and Barinkay in The Gipsy Baron.
Besides opera and operetta he also sings oratorio and lieder. He has appeared in
many concert performances.
Berlioz’ La Damnation de Faust, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Pinkerton in Madame
Butterfly, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Cassio in Otello,
the Marquis de Chateauneuf in Albert Lortzing’s Zar und Zimmermann, the singer in Der
Rosenkavalier, Tristan und Isolde, the first knight of the Grail in Parsifal, Prince Sou-
Chong in Lehár’s Das Land des Lächelns, and Barinkay in The Gipsy Baron.
Besides opera and operetta he also sings oratorio and lieder. He has appeared in
many concert performances.
Since commencing his freelance career he has sung in many countries including Australia
(Australian Opera, Victorian Opera and South Australian Opera), USA (Washington Opera
and Miami Opera), Canada (Canadian Opera, Toronto), Columbia (Bogota Opera), England
(Glyndebourne Touring Company and for the BBC), Israel (Tel Aviv Opera), Austria
(Salzburg Festival and Klagenfurt), Italy (Pisa Opera) and in West Germany - where he is
also resident - (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Hannover, Heidelberg, Lübeck, Saarbrücken,
Nurenberg, Wiesbaden, and Wuppertal Opera, houses).
(Australian Opera, Victorian Opera and South Australian Opera), USA (Washington Opera
and Miami Opera), Canada (Canadian Opera, Toronto), Columbia (Bogota Opera), England
(Glyndebourne Touring Company and for the BBC), Israel (Tel Aviv Opera), Austria
(Salzburg Festival and Klagenfurt), Italy (Pisa Opera) and in West Germany - where he is
also resident - (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Hannover, Heidelberg, Lübeck, Saarbrücken,
Nurenberg, Wiesbaden, and Wuppertal Opera, houses).