He was born in Germany. He studied vocals under the guidance of Paul and Lilo Mangold in Berlin. From 1967 to 1970, while he was still studying, he apperared at the Rehberge Theater, Berlin, singing tenor roles. He made his professional debut as Radamès [Aida] at the Aachen Theater, in 1969-70. From 1970 to 1976, he sang at many theaters in Germany: Stadttheater von Osnabrück, Stadttheater von Bremerhaven, Theater am Gärtnerplatz in Munich. From 1975 to 1978, he was a member of the National Theater Mannheim, and from 1975 to 1977 he sang roles in Wagnerian works at the State Opera in Vienna. In 1976, he sang the eponymous role in Wagner's Lohengrin at the Salzburg Easter Festival. During the same period, and until 1982, he appeared in many theaters in Europe and the USA. He interpreted mostly heroic-tenor roles. His repertoire includes, among others, the following roles: Herodes [Salome], Florestan [Fidelio], Don José [Carmen], Canio [Pagliacci], Lensky [Eugene Onegin], Manrico [Il trovatore], Radamès and Othello [Otello]. He has also done numerous recordings, including, most importantly, Salome (in the role of Herodes, conducted by H. von Karajan, EMI) and Rienzi (Eurodisc), where he interpreted the eponymous leading role. He had programmed a collaboration with the GNO in the production of Richard Strauss' opera Salome, where he would sing the role of Herodes at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus [""Herodion""], in the context of the Athens Festival. However, this staging was finally called off.