Meet the band

Neopera biography

The band Neopera was founded in 2011 and first appeared on the scene with their demo "Destined Ways", which was created in collaboration with renowned producer Eike Frese (Dark Age, Hammer Studios). As early as May 2012, band founder and composer Jörn Schubert succeeded in signing a record deal with the prestigious label earMUSIC with the aim of recording a full album. As a result, their debut album "Destined Ways" was released internationally in August 2014, earning great acclaim and laying the foundations for their success.

One of their highlights was a performance at the renowned "Wacken Open Air Festival", one of the biggest metal festivals in the world, which brought the band further recognition.

However, during the CD recordings, Jörn Schubert faced a challenge when he was diagnosed with muscular dystonia, which prevented him from continuing as the band's guitarist. The band then took a break while Jörn underwent intensive therapy.

In 2019, Thorsten Schuck and Jörn Schubert reconnected and decided to continue making music together. As Jörn was no longer able to work as a guitarist due to his illness, but primarily as a composer, the band formed a new line-up.

In 2020, Neopera released their acoustic album "In Memoriam", which included the songs from their album "Destined Ways" in new arrangements as well as two new songs.

In 2021, the band released the singles "An Eternal Night" and "Verge of War" as well as accompanying music videos, which met with an enthusiastic response.

At the end of 2022, they proudly presented their EP "Tuba Mirum", which contained four brand new songs and once again demonstrated the band's creative potential. Despite the challenges of the Covid situation, Neopera made a conscious decision to work in the studio and prepared to return to the stage with energetic live concerts.

After first performances with a new line-up in 2023, the band is their new album "Eternal Source" in 2025 which features baroque works by G.F. Handel in symphonic metal guise.

Neopera is a band that has been through ups and downs, but has grown into a powerful force in the symphonic metal genre through their passion for music, exceptional style and relentless determination. Their unique combination of melodic and orchestral elements as well as powerful vocals make them an unforgettable experience for their fans and for every metal lover worldwide.

Lineup:
Vocals: Thorsten Schuck
Vocals: Wiebke Krull
Shouts/Bass: Denis Filimonov
Lead guitar: David Wieczorek
Composer: Jörn Schubert

Thorsten Schuck

Thorsten Schuck started singing when he was just 12 in a children's choir in Braunschweig. After studying classical singing in Hamburg under guidance of Jale Papila, he became a soloist and won in the Franz Grothe singing competition. Now, Thorsten is a freelance singer and teaches others how to sing. Beside private lessons he is also a singing teacher at a vocational drama school and has trained musical students during their professional education. He has a special voice that can sing in many styles. In NEOPERA, his classical voice education makes their music sound exciting and theatrical. For Thorsten, NEOPERA is like finding the perfect music style. Apart from NEOPERA, Thorsten is also part of other music projects. He sings oratory and has worked with different choirs and theaters. He also leads two choirs.

Thorsten Schuck is not just a musician; he's someone who loves making music with friends and enjoys every moment of it. Thorsten brings a unique touch to the music scene.

Wiebke Krull

From Wiebke’s earliest days in kindergarten, music and singing have been inseparable from her life's journey. Her first attempt into classical choral singing at school laid the foundation, leading her to explore the diverse realms of music. A pivotal moment occurred when she joined a gospel choir, where she not only immersed herself in group harmonies but also embraced solo performances. This journey led her to classical singing lessons, and over the past 30 years, she's had the privilege of participating in various performances in almost every genre, whether with choirs, bands, or as a soloist.

Joining NEOPERA marks a significant milestone for Wiebke, as it allows her to fulfill a long-cherished dream - combining her classical soprano voice with a profound love for rock and metal music.

Denis Filimonov

Denis is a software developer from Russia, whose passion for music runs deep in his veins. His musical journey began at 17, playing the bass guitar in a symphonic metal band, a genre that still resonates with him deeply. Over time, he became renowned as the bassist and background vocalist for the hard rock band Devil's Balls, where he contributed to several albums. His musical explorations have covered a wide range of genres, from hard rock to black metal. Before joining NEOPERA, Denis delved into mastering the art of screaming and growling, enhancing his vocal capabilities.

For Denis, NEOPERA is the perfect platform to blend his love for metal, classical music, bass guitar, and extreme vocal techniques into a harmonious and exhilarating fusion.

David Wieczorek

Dawid started with pianolessons at the age of four, then got a a short period pf lessons in classical guitar during primary school. Inspired by a friend's Heavy Metal concert in fourth grade he always wanted to play electrical guitar but could not convince his parents up until the age of fourteen. He also started to listen to bands like Queen, Helloween and Deep Purple. During that time he borrowed a guitar from friends and quickly got lessons from a jazz guitar teacher (who tought him rock). From that day on he played in several different bands from punk to death metal and even black metal. During his literature studies he got to know Lars Ramcke and then joined his band Stormwarrior. With Stormwarrior he recorded two albums, an EP and several coverversions for compilation albums. Not only were they playing on larger festivals they also joined Gamma Ray on their Japan tour. He then joined the band Paragon for one and a half year where he had to leave due to his lack of time. After this short break from music he recorded vocals for the Blackmetal project Suicidal Vortex (one album and two EPs). He also played in some Coverbands and sang in another Deathmetal band (Deathburg). Later, 2019 he played bass guitar in the Powermetal band Tragedian with whom he wrote and recorded songs for 3 albums. They played the Metal Dayzs and following that in Wacken in 2022. In 2022 he joined Terra Atlantica as a lead guitarist with whom he recorded one album (another one is being recorded in 2024) and toured through Germany.

It was a foggy afternoon in 2023, when Jörn Schubert called him, to play guitar in Neopera. Without any hesitation, he proudly said yes.

Jörn Schubert

Jörn Schubert, born on 05.10.1977 in Hamburg, started making music in his childhood. Already in elementary school he composed his first songs. What started out on old pots and self-made tin drums quickly became increasingly professional. At the age of just 7 he got his first piano lessons and at 11 he had his first lessons on the acoustic guitar. One year later, Jörn continued on his first electric guitar, which he got for Christmas: A metallic-red "Hohner SL-305-G". Since then he has never put the guitar down. In the following years Jörn got lessons on the electric guitar as well as on the classical acoustic guitar. Jörn founded his first band Dragon Slayer, later Annihilation of Power, in the early 90s with Simon Börner and Nils Kolonko. A CD with the title "Changes" was released. From 1997 on Jörn played in the band Dark Age as lead guitarist. Until 2013 he stood on stage for countless concerts and also released 9 albums with the band. In the year 2000 Jörn was also guitarist with Holy Moses for a short time. He worked on the EP "Master of Disaster" and also played a handful of concerts with Holy Moses. In 2010 Jörn finally started to realize his personal musician's dream of mixing metal with classical influences and started his own project. Inspired by Yngwie Malmsteen, Nightwish, Rhapsody of Fire and Blind Guardian to Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Nevermore, Dark Age and Entombed, as well as Mozart, Beethoven, Händel, Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Franz Schubert, Jörn's compositions began to take shape. Neopera saw the light of the music world and in 2011 a first demo EP was recorded in the Hammerstudio, in collaboration with producer Eike Freese. A record deal with earMusic/a Project of Edel and the longplayer "Destined Ways" followed. During the recordings for "Destined Ways", the stroke of fate that changed Joern's musical life fundamentally occurred: Due to a focal muscular dystonia in his left hand, it suddenly became almost impossible for Joern to continue playing guitar at the old familiar level. With severe cramps in his left hand, he still played some concerts with Neopera and recorded a live acoustic EP with two new studio songs. Afterwards, however, a longer break followed, because Jörn questioned his status as a musician due to the physical limitations. Only in 2019, after a long and intensive examination of his own situation and also with a redesign of the Neopera concept as well as a largely new band composition, a new attempt with Neopera should be undertaken. Although Jörn is now exclusively active as a composer, he remains the heart of the band. For live activities, despite long therapy, dexterity is not enough.