Quasthoff was born with serious birth defects caused by his mother's exposure during pregnancy to the drug thalidomide which was prescribed as an antiemetic to combat her morning sickness. Thomas Quasthoff is unusually short (about four feet tall) due to shortening of the long bones in his legs, and he has phocomelia of the upper extremities with very short or absent long bones and flipper-like appearance of his hands.
Quasthoff was denied admission to the music conservatory in Hannover, Germany due to his physical inability to play the piano, then a requirement for entry to the conservatory. He chose to study voice privately. He also studied law for three years. Prior to his music career, he worked six years as a radio announcer for NDR. He also did voice-over work for television.
His music career was launched in 1988 when he won an important competition in Munich, earning praise from the baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. In 2003, he made his staged operatic debut as Don Fernando in Simon Rattle's Beethoven's Fidelio at the Salzburg Festival. His San Francisco Symphony debut took place September 2004.
Thomas Quasthoff won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance in 2000. It was for his performance together with the soprano Anne Sofie von Otter of Mahler’s Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn". They were accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Claudio Abbado. He won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for the second time in 2004. It was for Schubert: Lieder with Orchestra which Quasthoff performed with von Otter and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe conducted by Abbado. Quasthoff won the Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal Performance for the third time in 2006 with Rainer Kussmaul leading members of the RIAS Chamber Choir of Berlin Baroque Soloists in their recording of J.S.Bach: Cantatas.
Additionally, Quasthoff's recordings of the songs of Brahms, Liszt and Schubert accompanied by pianist Justus Zeyen were nominated for the Grammy in 2000 and 2001. Thomas Quasthoff records for Deutsche Grammophon.
Quasthoff is a full-time voice professor and performs only about 50 times a year. He was a professor at the music academy of Detmold, Germany. He currently teaches at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin.
For the 2006-2007 concert season, Quasthoff was one of Carnegie Hall's "Perspectives" artists. However, illness forced him to cancel his first two appearances in that capacity.
In 2006 he took his first jazzalbum, "The Jazzalbum - Watch what happens", with Till Brönner, Alan Broadbent, Peter Erskine, Dieter Ilg and Chuck Loeb.
In the spring of 2012, Quasthoff announced his retirement at the age of 52. During an interview with the German magazine, Der Spiegel, Quasthoff said that his retirement was due to grief at the death of his brother, as well as a recent bout of laryngitis. He also went on to speak that he was now satisfied that the world had not just listened to his art due to his physical challenges, but that his art was truly respected for itself.
You And I
Thomas Quasthoff Lyrics
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It's you and I
God has made us fall in love, it's true
I've really found someone like you
Will it say the love you feel for me, will it say
That you will be by my side
To see me through
Well, in my mind, we can conquer the world
In love you and I, you and I, you and I
I am glad at least in my life I found someone
That may not be here forever to see me through
But I found strength in you
I only pray that I have shown you a brighter day
Because that's all that I am living for, you see
Don't worry what happens to me
Cause in my mind, you will stay here always
In love, you and I, you and I, you and I, you and I
In my mind we can conquer the world
In love, you and I, you and I, you and I
The lyrics of Thomas Quasthoff's song "You And I" express a deep and profound love between two individuals. The singer acknowledges that it is a divine intervention, as if God has brought them together. The chorus emphasizes the strong bond between the two, proclaiming that they can conquer the world together in their love. Despite the uncertainty of the future and the possibility that their time together may be limited, the singer cherishes the strength and joy they find in each other. The lyrics convey the immense gratitude and hope for a brighter future, knowing that the love they share will endure.
The song portrays a sense of enduring love and resilience in the face of challenges, emphasizing the power of love to overcome obstacles. It speaks to the profound impact that love can have on one's life, and the solace and strength that is derived from a deep connection with another person. The lyrics also convey a sense of acceptance and selflessness, as the singer expresses their willingness to sacrifice their own well-being for the happiness of the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we are on earth together
We are currently residing on this planet together
It's you and I
It's just you and me
God has made us fall in love, it's true
Love between us is a divine creation
I've really found someone like you
I have truly discovered a person similar to you
Will it say the love you feel for me, will it say
Will it express the affection you have for me, will it disclose
That you will be by my side
That you will stand beside me
To see me through
To support and guide me
Until my life is through
Until the end of my existence
Well, in my mind, we can conquer the world
In my thoughts, we can overcome any obstacle
In love you and I, you and I, you and I
We, as a couple, can achieve greatness together, repeatedly mentioned
I am glad at least in my life I found someone
I am thankful that at least in my life I discovered someone
That may not be here forever to see me through
Who may not be present indefinitely to support and guide me
But I found strength in you
Yet, I derived strength from you
I only pray that I have shown you a brighter day
I simply hope that I have brought happiness to your life
Because that's all that I am living for, you see
Since that is the sole purpose of my existence, you understand
Don't worry what happens to me
Do not concern yourself with my well-being
Cause in my mind, you will stay here always
Because in my thoughts, you will forever remain here
In love, you and I, you and I, you and I, you and I
In love, we, as a couple, will persist, repeatedly mentioned
In my mind we can conquer the world
In my thoughts, we can triumph over the entire world
In love, you and I, you and I, you and I
In love, we, as a couple, will prevail, repeatedly mentioned
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY GIBB, MAURICE ERNEST GIBB, ROBIN HUGH GIBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind