The German tenor Michael Gniffke began a career in business-management before studying classical singing in Zurich with his father, the opera singer Rudolf A. Hartmann. Subsequently, he continued his studies with Alfred Muff and Robert Schunk. 

His debut was at the Theater Arth in Switzerland as Count Zedlau in "Wiener Blut". In addition to numerous leads in operetta, Michael Gniffke has sung Alfredo ("La Traviata"), Tamino ("The Magic Flute"), Hoffmann ("Tales of Hoffmann"), Max ("Freischütz"), Faust ("Faust") and Don José ("Carmen"). 

Recently he has been specializing in character roles and contemporary repertoire (Witch ("Hänsel und Greel"), Cavalier ("Cardillac"), Captain in "Wozzeck", the tenor part in Detlev Glanert "Drei Wasserspiele", etc.), as well as expanding into roles of the German fach such as Paul ("Die Tote Stadt"), Herod ("Salome"), Loge ("Das Rheingold"), and Mime ("Das Rheingold", "Siegfried").

Actually, Michael Gniffke sings Hexe in »Hänsel und Gretel« in Lübeck (since 2014), Aegisth in »Elektra« in Magdeburg and Alwa in Alban Bergs »Lulu« in Ulm.

An extensive concert activity completes his musical commitment. The "Requiem" by Andrew Lloyd Webber, "Le Laudi" by Herman Suter and the "Requiem" by Giuseppe Verdi are some of the highlights of his concert career.